Edition Wandelweiser: Empty Words
In an interesting turn of events, Antoine Beuger is giving the world a preview of an upcoming Wandelweiser release of John Cage’s massive “Empty Words”. What will eventually be a 2 disc set (in high quality audio, 10 hours of music) I’m told, is currently available for streaming here. Three alternate version of part three are available, apparently decision is still out on what the final version will be. A rare glimpse into the creative process, which is quite interesting.
While I’m sure it will be some time before I’m through all of it, the beginning piece shows a lot of promise for the set. The whole sounding like a typically Wandelweiser take on earlier avant-guardisms. Very deftly updated, and largely lacking what, for me, are some of the more ostentatious leanings of the period in which the original piece was composed.
Looking forward to investigating the rest of this. That it’s a massive and bold undertaking, should not be underestimated.
Thanks to Jon Abbey, for the tip. Thanks to Michael Pisaro, for the corrections.
(On a side note, in some research on the pieces used as underpinnings for the “words” themselves, I came upon a free download of Radu Malfatti’s, “wechseljahre einer hyäne” at the Kendra Steiner Editions blog. A very nice surprise, as I’m unfamiliar with the piece.)
