Musics For My Friends & Enemies
1969-1972

Glenn R. Sogge

Originally published © 1972 by MEDIATION COMBINE
Evanston, Illinois
Web version Feb-Mar, 1997 (corrections Mar, 1998) © 1997-98 Glenn R. Sogge
(In some cases, minor typographical and layout changes
have been made from the originally published edition.)

Larger scans here

ohsopretty

For at least several people.

Build a small fire (a match, some kindling, some paper or anything else.) Amplification is extremely desirable. But not too loud.

Hum quietly, rather low. Change pitches occasionally but not too often. While humming, or before, or after, or not al all, make 3 or 9 or 2 beautiful sounds. Make them ohsopretty.

When the fire is out, make another one using different materials and a different level of amplification. But not too loud.

Try to remember your most beautiful moment. Make several quite elegant sounds. Make them ohsopretty.

When the fire is out, turn off the lights and hum rather low. When you run out of breath stop. Exit silently.

Oscillator Music I

For one performer and 6 oscillators of various waveforms.

tune all the oscillators to the same frequency before beginning. try to change the frequency of the tome complex + or - 100 c.p.s. without the audience being able to detect frequency differences between the oscillators. this must be done manually -- no voltage control.

Music For John Cage To Accompany Merce Cunningham Dancing

(may be performed by others)

a tape loop of John Cage
(or somebody else)
saying
"... and over ..."

duration is indeterminate

Words

For several performers.

Choose the one word that you think is the most beautiful word that you have ever heard in any language.

Say it four times very slowly.

Say it once loudly, but not too loudly.

Say it like you were whispering it to your lover many, many times.

Say it seven times very softly.

Do the preceding four instructions in any order.

Whisper it twice.

MfMF&E 1

for string quartet:

choose one of the sonorities below and sustain for a duration between 5 and 8 minutes (determined by a chance method of your own choosing) with no vibrato. Play at pp throughout.

[ scanned image ]

#2

play one note on the piano.
use the sustain pedal throughout.
vary the sound as many ways
as possible (mute strings,
dampen one or two strings,
insert objects in strings,
use different types of
touches, etc.)
stop when you get tired.

MfMF&E 2

Tape Piece

make 4 tape loops of different lengths. play them at any speed and set the playback levels to where they sound good to you. mix down to mono at any absolute volume but keep the relative volumes the same.

duration: ca. 9 minutes

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