Key Moments

Here are some turning points, marking places where percussion drastically changed in Western music...

Berlioz's "Symphony Fantastique" (1830)

First major use of a dramatic narrative conveyed by orchestral percussion.

Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" (1913)

Revolutionary rhythms, heavy percussion.

Edgard Varèse's "Ionisation" (1931)

First purely percussion ensemble.

John Cage's (1912-1992) Experimental Work

Being in the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame, piece's by John Cage had an incredible impact on evolving experimental techniques within percussion.

“Many people leave my concerts thinking they have heard ‘noise’, but will then hear unsuspected beauty in their everyday life.”

“to the music, say, of Beethoven. In the latter case we are temporarily protected or transported from the noises of everyday life. In the case of percussion music, we become triumphant over it and our ears become sensitive to its beauties.”

Examples of John Cage

4'33"

John Cage's revolutionary "silent" musical piece is written for any soloist or instrumental group in which there is no sound being produced... intentionally of course! This selection is a crafted depiction of stillness. It has also been depicted to be a song of the "sound of silence". 4'33" simply makes you aware of silence by providing it within the concert hall.

Imaginary Landscape No. 1

John Cage’s electro-acoustic work, one of the earliest of its kind, utilizes a muted piano, cymbal, and two variable-speed turntables playing Victor frequency records.

Living Room Music

John Cage’s Living Room Music is a four-player piece using household objects. The featured "instruments" include magazines, newspaper or cardboard, a table or other wooden furniture, large books, the floor, the wall, a door or Wooden frame of window, and an optional melodic instrument.

Credo in Us

John Cage’s percussion quartet incorporates records, radios, and music by other composers. The work, originally for a Merce Cunningham dance, is described as a satirical suite.

Where to Next?

Sources

“Ionisation by Edgard Varèse.” Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://resources.bcmg.org.uk/creating-music-at-home/ionisation

“John Cage.” Percussive Arts Society (PAS). Accessed April 20, 2025. https://pas.org/john-cage/

“John Cage Work Detail: Credo in US.” John Cage Trust. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://www.johncage.org/pp/John-Cage-Work-Detail.cfm?work_ID=50#:~:text=Composed%20in%201942.,.%2C%20August%201%2C%201942.&text=For%20percussion%20quartet%20(including%20piano%20and%20radio%20or%20phonograph).&text=This%20work%20was%20originally%20used,the%20phraseology%20of%20the%20dance.

“John Cage Work Detail: Imaginary Landscape No. 1.” John Cage Trust. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://johncage.org/pp/John-Cage-Work-Detail.cfm?work_ID=100#:~:text=For%20two%20variable%2Dspeed%20phono,Marriage%20at%20the%20Eiffel%20Tower.

“Third Construction by John Cage – Percussion Ensemble Sheet Music.” Steve Weiss Music. Accessed April 20, 2025. https://www.steveweissmusic.com/product/25661/percussion-ensemble-sheet-music

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