In the sixth of these special City Circus programs, listen to a show based around Cage’s connection to Japan and fascination with things Japanese, like Haiku poetry, Zen Buddhism, and traditional Japanese instruments.  Listen to a WNYC recording of a live performance on traditional Japanese instruments of Cage’s work “Ryoanji” inspired by the famous rock garden in Japan.  

Also, from the same concert, hear a work by the late Katsutoshi Nagasawa (1923-2008), one of many contemporary Japanese composers who looked to Cage as a primary source of inspiration. Then, listen to a series of duets based on the haiku form by Cage, as performed by Newband.  Plus, Cage’s twisted and abstract arrangements of many Beatles tunes, commissioned and recorded by Aki Takahashi.

PROGRAM #        1053, John Cage/Citycircus, Program VI  (First aired on 6/15/1994)