Clip of James Joyce reading from Finnegan's wake, ca. 0:00-0:57; radio host Peter Dickson introduces Joyce's reading, John Cage, and his Roaratorio (1979); Cage speaks about his first readings of Finnegans wake in the 1920s; his continued interest in Finnegans wake, including as basis for text in his Wonderful widow of eighteen springs (1942); Cage tells an anecdote about writing mesostics through the use of text from Finnegans wake for an article; Cage explains his use of mesostics in his compositional process, and as live readings in his Roaratorio; the use of recorded sounds in Roaratorio such as of animals and in locations specific to the book; Cage speaks more on his travels for recording the sounds; Cage speaks about meeting Joe Heaney, an Irish folksinger, and asking other Irish folk musicians to perform in Roaratorio; clip of Joe Heaney singing; Peadher Mercier speaks about meeting Cage and the atypical way Cage wanted to work with the folk musicians; Mercier names some of the other musicians who worked with Cage; Mercier describes the aleatory based instructions given to the musicians for performances of Roaratorio; short clip of bodhrán duet played by Peadher and Mel Mercier; Cage briefly speaks about the independent nature of the connection between the music and Merce Cunningham's dance; Cunningham speaks about using the rhythmic structure of reels and jigs in his choreography for Roaratorio; Cunningham speaks about his interest in the idea of human family and organizing the piece spatially; more on the choreography; the similarities of structure between the music and the dance, and the layers of the work as a whole; Cage speaks about his score for Roaratorio, including the structure of the title; Cage speaks about the role of the viewer and witnessing the work with an "empty mind"; more on the broader nature of music and culture; Mercier speaks about his initial distaste for the work and describes how that has been transformed, including several moments that he particularly enjoys; clip of Cage reading his mesostic text.
Alternative title
Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection. Audio materials.
Title provided by cataloger based on audition and typed note on original container.
Typed notes on original container: "Cage's Irish Circus ; John Cage on Roaratorio with Merce Cunningham and Peader [Peadher] Mercier ; Presenter Peter Dickinson [Dickson] ; Producer Anthony [Tony] Cheevers x 5875 30716 LS ; Tx 19.7.87 ; BBC R3".
Sound quality is good.
Donor's inventory number: C381.
Access (note)
Patrons can access streaming audio only on site at NYPL Research Libraries.
Source (note)
Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation
Linking entry (note)
Forms part of the Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection.
Author
Cage, John, interviewee.
Title
John Cage's Irish Circus : BBC 3 radio program on Roaratorio with Cage, Merce Cunningham and Peadher Mercier, 1987-07-19.
Production
July 19, 1987.
Playing time
003010
Type of content
spoken word
Type of medium
audio
Type of carrier
audiocassette
online resource
Digital file characteristics
audio file
Event
Broadcast on BBC radio station, Great Britain, 1987 July 19.
Restricted access
Patrons can access streaming audio only on site at NYPL Research Libraries.