Random the Book

The article from Walker Art Magazine discusses the collaboration between choreographer Merce Cunningham and composer John Cage in the creation of the dance piece “Ocean.”

It relates to randomness through John Cage’s use of chance operations in composing the music for “Ocean.” Cage often employed random processes, such as using the I Ching or coin tosses, to determine various elements of his compositions. This approach introduced unpredictability and spontaneity into the performance, aligning with the natural and unstructured environment of the quarry where “Ocean” was performed.

For more details, you can read the full article here.

Thanks to Suzi O’Neill for the tip.