Third Construction by by John Cage
written in 1970
Equipment
Player 1
- N.W. Indian Rattle (Wooden)
- 5 Graduated tin cans
- 5 Graduated drums
- Claves
- Large Sus. Chinese Cymbal
- Maracas
- Teponaxtle
Player 2
- 3 Graduated drums
- 5 Graduated tin cans
- Claves
- 2 Cowbells
- Indo-Chinese rattle (wooden with many seperate chambers)
- Lion's Roar
- 2 cowbells
Player 3
- 3 Graduated Drums
- Tambourine
- 5 Graduated tin cans
- Quijadas (jawbone of an ass)
- Claves
- Cricket Callers (Split Bamboo)
- Conch Shell
Player 4
- Tin Can with tacks (rattle)
- 5 Graduated tin cans
- Claves
- Maracas
- 3 graduated drums
- Wooden ratchet
- Bass drum roar
Performance Factors
- 4 scores are needed for performance
- The duration is 15 minutes long
- If players serve as conductors during part of the piece they should polish their conducting
Features
- Groupings of 4 against 6 (ex. m.5, m. 13)
- Groupings of 5 against 4 (ex. m. 16, m. 17)
- Groupings of 5 against 8 (ex. m. 19, m. 24)
- Many different odd groupings superimposed on each other (ex. m. 24)
- 4 against 6 groupings across barlines (5 and 6 after A)
- Rhythmic cells (figures) which cross barlines (8-10 after B)
- 5 partials (ex. 3 and 4 after D)
- Accents in middle of 5 partials (5 before E)
- Specific stick asked for in some cases
- Specific stricking spot asked for in some cases
- Specifies muted maracas (covered) (12 before H)
- K is similar to polymeter
- PIece is all about rhymic tension and release
- Groupings of 9 against 8 (bar before U)
- Groupings of 7 against 8 (starting 3 after U)
- For the most part, someone always has a fairly straightforward part (quarters or eigths while others have odd groupings against that
Facts about the piece
- Written in 1941 and dedicated to his wife Xenia
- First performance was on May 14, 1941
- Lou Harrison played on first performance
Facts about John Cage