Water Walking and Bicycle Blowing (part 1)

Andre, , , ,

Most of you are probably already familiar with the following videos:

(The remainder of Zappa’s performance can be found here.) These videos have made the rounds numerous times over the years, but I don’t know if anyone’s ever looked into any possible connections between Cage and Zappa. To me, these two performances and their respective contexts are too similar to be coincidental. I think it’s very likely that Zappa saw Cage’s appearance on television and modeled his own performance on it. Even if there isn’t such a direct connection between the two videos, I think it’s more than likely that Zappa at least had some of Cage’s theory in mind.

I think there’s a lot to say here, so I’ll limit my discussion here to a little background info on the two videos. I’ll follow up in a second post with a brief analysis of Zappa’s discourse regarding Cage.

The first video shows John Cage in his February 24, 1960 appearance on the CBS game show I’ve Got a Secret. Typically, the show features contestants with unusual, amazing, embarrassing, or otherwise humorous secret. A panel tries to guess their secret using only yes/no questions. The host, Garry Moore, considered Cage’s secret–

I’m going to perform one of my musical compositions … The ‘instruments’ I will use are: a water pitcher, an iron pipe, a goose call, a bottle of wine, an electric mixer, a whistle, a sprinkling can, ice cubes, 2 cymbals, a mechanical fish, a quail call, a rubber duck, a tape recorder, a vase of roses, a seltzer siphon, 5 radios, a bathtub, and a grand piano.

–to be intriguing enough to forgo the game in hopes of allowing time for the entire piece to be performed (with the further hope of a Q&A afterwards).

water walk 1

Floorplan for Cage’s Water Walk [1]

The piece Cage performed, Water Walk, was an adaption of his earlier piece Water Music (1952) which is generally thought of as the first of Cage’s so-called “theater pieces.” Cage originally adapted the piece for a performance on a different game show, the Italian program Lascia o Raddoppia (loosely translated: “double or nothing”) in January of 1959.

cage_Buongiorno

John Cage on Lascia o Raddoppia with host Mike Buongiorno

On Lascia o Raddoppia, contestants answered questions on a topic of their choice. If they were successful, they were invited back the following week to answer harder questions for progressively larger winnings. A contestant who made it through all five weeks stood to win five million lire (approximately eight thousand dollars). Cage, an accomplished mycologist, answered questions about mushrooms with the aid of an interpreter. Cage made it through all five weeks and bought a new piano with his winnings upon returning home. More significantly, Cage was also invited to perform one of his compositions each week of show. Water Walk adapted the earlier Water Music to be more appropriate to the televised medium.

water walk 2

Detail of the score for Water Walk [2]

Compared to Water Music, Water Walk is much simpler. Cage’s specifications for the timing of various events are much less specific. More significantly, however, Cage seems to have introduced a greater degree of humor to the second piece, pandering to the lighthearted nature of television and its audiences. I think the added humor was something that would surely have appealed to Zappa.

(The only other performance of Water Walk by Cage was done on The Henry Morgan Show in June of 1959.)

In the other video, we see Zappa performing on The Steve Allen Show three years later. Zappa’s piece, a “concerto for two bicycles, a pre-recorded tape and the musicians in the back” is much more improvised. As Zappa points out in the pre-performance interview, he hadn’t been playing the bike very long.

Jerry Hopkins, the show’s talent coordinator recalls how Zappa landed the gig:

The rules for my job were simple. Get someone who was genuinely eccentric or who did something at least a little strange or out-of-the-ordinary, but never make fun of them—the idea was to have fun with them. And, no fakes, no frauds, no bogus acts looking for exposure and willing to do anything to get it, no put-ons or send-ups, no cons. Because, Steve assured me, they never, ever worked, and they embarrassed everyone.

Only once did I ignore his advice and that was when I got a call from a young man who identified himself as Frank Zappa. He said he wanted to teach Steve how to “blow bicycle.” “Blow bicycle,” I repeated.

“Yeah, you know, like, the bicycle is a musical instrument.”

(You can read the rest of Hopkins’ account here.)

Zappa’s performance even got a write up in a local Cucamonga newspaper:

“Ontario Composer, Steve Allen To Play Wacky Duet”

Frank Zappa, 22, Ontario resident and composer of music, serious and otherwise, will be seen on television tomorrow night playing a bicycle concerto for two with Steve Allen. The show is at 11 p.m., Channel 5. “It’s very funny,” said Zappa. “You play a bicycle by plucking the spokes and blowing through the handle bars.” Other methods of producing “cyclophony” is to stroke the spokes with the bow of a bass fiddle, twirl the pedals and let air out of the tires. The Zappa-Allen concerto will be abetted by a man in the control room fooling around with a tape recorder and by a jazz group which will supply toneless background noise. Zappa studied music and art at Chaffey College. He wrote the score for “The World’s Greatest Sinner,” a low-budget tale about a sacrilegious imposter who repents. “Sinner” had its premiere at Vista-Continental Theater, Hollywood, and opened Wednesday at the Ken Theater, San Diego. Zappa writes musical commercials for TV and radio. They are recorded at Pal Studio, Cucamonga. [3]

These videos both provide neat examples of how the frequently-opposed worlds of art and pop occasionally intersect. A lot of the responsibility for these meetings can be placed on television. I haven’t quite worked this out completely yet, but it seems that for Zappa, the added visual dimension of televised performance goes hand in hand with what he thought about Cage.

In both of these videos, what interests me is the awkward mix of polite respect and anxious laughter on the parts of the hosts and the audiences of each show. I think that these two videos give us an intimate glance a very specific moment in the history of avant-garde music. Audiences (and television programmers) were still receptive to experimental ideas, which themselves hadn’t yet been relegated to exclusive academic circles.

From my perspective, nearly fifty years later, it’s remarkable how adventurous television programming was in the middle of the twentieth century. It’s easy to complain about the lack of this sort of programming nowadays, but I think these examples might give us a better understanding of the current situation.

References:
[1] Taken from William Fetterman, John Cage’s Theatre Pieces: Notations and Performances (Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers, 1996), 33.
[2] Ibid., 35.
[3] As of yet, I have not been able to find an accurate citation for this article. Based on the details it came from a Cucamonga, CA newspaper and can be dated to March 13, 1963. A transcription of the text can be found here.
Water Walking and Bicycle Blowing (part 1)

84,938 thoughts on “Water Walking and Bicycle Blowing (part 1)”

  4. 诪讻谞住讬 讗讚讬讚住 讙讘专讬诐

    讗讘拽转 讞诇讘讜谉 讗讜专谞讬专 诇转讝讜谞讛 谞讻讜谞讛 ornir wellness 讞讘专 讛专讘诇讬讬祝 注爪诪讗讬讘讬讟讜讞 讻诇诇 讟诇驻讜谉 砖讬专讜转 诇拽讜讞讜转 1 900 721 285讗驻诇讬拽爪讬讛 讞讚砖讛 注讜诇讛 注诇 讛驻住讬诐 讬砖专讗诇 讛讬讜诐拽诇讗讘 讛讜讟诇 讗讬诇转 讚讬诇讬诐 诪讘爪注讬诐 讛讞诇 诪 367 鈧?讗诪讜专 拽诇讗讘

  7. 銈搞儯銈便儍銉堟槬绉嬨伄鏈?涓触銇偔銉冦偤鐢ㄥ搧 瀛愪緵鏈?銇腑鍙ゃ亗銇掋伨銇?璀层倞銇俱仚 銈搞儮銉嗐偅銉笺仹涓嶇敤鍝併伄鍑﹀垎

    e222 sukienka noemi i redzestaw zegarek esprit bransoletka jubiler karkosikmakeup aflofarm regenerum nail serum serum do paznokciczarne work n cushion 2 rd3671012 buty do chodzenia

  12. balenciaga low for sale

    tante betsy 60s trudy hearts dress in blue ko拧arka拧ke tenisice jordan ii retro low obu膰a air crna majica kratkih rukava d臎tskè°© zimn铆 膷epice regatta balzak beanie 蠁蠅蟿喂蟽蟿喂魏蠈 慰蟻慰蠁萎蟼 蟺慰位蠀苇位伪喂慰蟼 5蠁蠅蟿慰 位蔚蠀魏蠈 魏伪喂 蟻慰味 蠂蟻蠀蟽蠈 aca decor roztrhan茅 dè°©mske rifle sti…

  15. super duper hats 銈广兗銉氥儷銉夈偉銉笺儦銉?supermarket dew gone hat hat rabbit felt

    carmel dagseng natur mé…¶bler marble sengesett str 140 220 fra kid lag ditt eget design kabellé…¶s sté…¶vsuger jbl eon 615 aktiv 1000w hé…¶yttaler montane down jacket dunjakke black alpine red s utebord benk. kan stæ°“ ute hele æ°“ret kjé…¶per du et par luna té…¶fler…

  21. coque reebok gsm samsung j5

    frustrated with goalkeeper manuel neuer germany after the2019 colombia soccer jersey colombia home yellow soccer shirt 10 james 9 falcao 11 cuadrado blue football uniform s 2xlnike red mens landon donovan usa soccer name and number t shirt for mennike…

  26. chanel samsung c7 pro cover

    tampa bay buccaneers super bowl champs 2002 varsity jacket gruden 4xl newhouston texans playoff history pro footballcleveland browns new speedflex riddell full size authentic football helmet speed flexprovide authentic clothing nike houston texans 27 d…

  27. 锌芯屑芯谢胁芯褔薪芯械 泻芯谢褜褑芯 懈蟹 斜械谢芯谐芯 蟹芯谢芯褌邪 c 胁褋褌邪胁泻芯泄 懈蟹 斜褉懈谢谢懈邪薪褌邪

    泻芯谢褜褑芯 胁 胁懈写械 泻芯褉芯薪褘. 蟹芯谢芯褌褘械kia optima 2020 泻芯屑锌谢械泻褌邪褑懈懈泻芯褋褌褞屑 薪邪 褏褝谢谢芯褍懈薪 锌褉芯泻邪褌 屑芯褋泻胁邪褔邪褋褘 褋胁械褌芯写懈芯写薪褘械 薪邪褋褌械薪薪褘械 led number clock 3615

  28. joggies red adult footless hoodie onesie

    mens cycling jersey set breathable quick dry short sleeve biking shirt with gel padded shorts mtb bike cycling clothing setcanvas bag oklahoma iconsmarc jacobs wristwatch for womenshop gucci duffle bags today why pay more for luxury

  29. coffre fort deco

    barbour ladies wax sports hat navychlap膷ensk茅 膷iapky na jardeluxe homburg in rain drop silver with tan band nht25 12furandown 2019 summer fashion unisex bucket hat men women

  31. clennanco

    sac è„¿ main forme bowling nike huarache negro cool gris volt adidas projoator incurza ii sg boots ladies albery sheepskin slippers veste nike tech fleece bleu porte carte luxe femme

  32. new era 9forty snapback black accessories hats

    buy discount lululemon bags online at the best price tk756 kappa inner bag kenzo autumn winter 2012 13 yoga mat bag cotton batik handmade in singapore make a shiny statement with the jimmy choo lockett bag adidas originals good solid backpack price in…

  33. solbrille veloce matt black fototec reader 1

    stucki work bibsgooulfi baby cotton infant dress for baby outfit dress 1 month 3 month baby lace polyester dresses floral baby clotheswomens clothes shops order a series summer clothing andconnect store clearance sale smartphones malaysia 2015

  34. 鑷垎銇屻亜銇勩仾銇併仺鎬濄亞銈广兗銉勩伄鑳稿厓 stylez 銉娿儧銇儢銉偘

    botki z wyci臋ciami lady camiu czarnebotki skorzane ccc lasockibuty adidas buty adidas originals sneakersy niebieskiamazon smartwool m臋skie ubrania logo stripe slim t

  35. lego marvels avengers pc

    womens nfl new england patriots hooded winter jacket med lg xl 2x gold bluesan francisco 49ers crucial catch fashion show the austenchicago bears baby clothes products for sale ebayjets training camp news and live updates 7 26 gang green

  38. 茅n egy szuper n艖v茅r vagyok n艖i p贸l贸

    monte grappa mobili nappali kieg茅sz铆t艖k chipolino noby hè°©romkerekç–Ÿ sport babakocsi anya ç…¤jsz眉læžštt babaruha otthon vasalè°©s mindennapi football factor nike phantom vision academy ic teremcip艖 belvè°©rosi tè°©rsashè°©z udvarè°©ban garè°©zs eladè´¸ kik for è°©svè°©ny kvar…

  43. chanel boutique 31 rue cambon carry all pouch

    卸械薪褋泻懈械 薪邪褉褍褔薪褘械 褔邪褋褘 geneva swarovski 褉芯蟹芯胁芯械 蟹芯谢芯褌芯卸械薪褋泻懈械 斜芯褋芯薪芯卸泻懈 谢械褌薪懈械 懈蟹 薪邪褌褍褉邪谢褜薪芯泄 泻芯卸懈泻芯屑锌邪薪懈褟 褋写褝泻 谢懈写械褉 胁 褋褎械褉械 褝泻褋锌褉械褋褋 写芯褋褌邪胁泻懈 谐褉褍蟹芯胁 锌芯褋褍屑泻邪 lotto bag thunder ii l black asphalt

  44. melrose dresses for women jcpenney

    on sale now 62 off women rubber rain boots new michael kors greenwich black saffiano leather medium bucket bag handbag spectacular sales for for love lemons lexington crop top cuban curb link bracelet for men 200 gauge solid heavy high nike sb check so…

  46. 蠁蠅蟿喂蟽蟿喂魏维 魏蟻蔚尾伪蟿慰魏维渭伪蟻伪蟼 5 蔚委未畏 蟺慰蠀 胃蔚蟼 谓伪 蠂蟻畏蟽喂渭慰蟺慰喂萎蟽蔚喂蟼

    amazon 銈广儖銉笺偒銉?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銇嬨倧銇勩亜 钀芥浉銇?銈兗銉堛偉銉笺兂涓嬮洦澶╁氨闈犲畠 2019蹇呰卜鏃ユ湰闆ㄩ瀷鍝佺墝绮鹃伕11娆?ez鏄撹卜amazon aooaz銈搞儱銈ㄣ儶銉?銉斻偄銈?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈逛汉姘?銈儹銈?鐪熺彔銉庛兗銈广儠銈с偆銈?銉儱銉冦偗 30l銇€氳博 au wowma

  49. hyein seo faux fur coat km20 online store

    nuevos auriculares inalè°©mbricos bluetooth red de iluminaciè´¸n oreja roja bluetooth est茅reo para ni帽asfundas de leè´¸n para tel茅fono huawei nova 5i casa sfor huawei carcaso p20 lite 2019 pu flip de cuero bolsa del tel茅fonocarcasas samsung s2 proaudifonos s…

Comments are closed.