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)”

  1. plecak dziewcz臋ce plecaki adidas

    銉囥偅銈恒儖銉笺偡銉笺伄銇娿仐銈冦倢銇湇瑁?0é–¬?姘楁俯銈勫ぉ姘椼伀鍚堛亞鏍煎ソ銈?foulard liu jo 269064 t0300 nero adidas rangewear 1 2 zip dè°©mskè°© mikina nike cipele za zimu viano膷nè°© dekorè°©cia dreven茅 ozdoby na viano膷n媒 strom膷ek 10ks viac variantov u prodaju pu拧tene majice s motivom najbolj…

  2. 褋褉褨斜薪邪 谢芯卸泻邪 褋褌芯谢芯胁邪 锌褉芯写邪卸邪

    torba zara zlata lylostojalo za de啪nike 膷rn durable 3350 pigo膷uk ura zidna z nihalom barvna kristalsadje na in sejemski ri啪

  3. mje拧alica sanitarije keramika i sanitarije

    2019澶忔柊浣?銈汇偗銈枫兗 銉愩偆銈儵銉?銉夈儍銉?銉撱偔銉?姘寸潃 au wowma 銉偊銉?銉熴儱銈︺儫銉ャ偊 浜屻仱鎶樸倞璨″竷 璨″竷 銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銉炪儓銉┿儍銈?銉栥儵銉冦偗 f0002 2019骞存槬澶忔柊浣?miu miu 90s reebok 銉兗銉溿儍銈?銉娿偆銉兂銈搞儯銈便儍銉?xl 銉偞 鍙ょ潃 榛?銉曘儶銉炪偄銉椼儶 銉┿偗銉?amazon 銈ㄣ儍銉€ edda 3é–«?銈枫儷銉愩兗925 銉兂銈?/a> nike 銉娿偆銈?銈广儖銉笺偒銉?react pr…

  7. brown tote bags for school

    vetement polo sport des portes serviettes portefeuille grand vizmaxx lunettes manteau garcon 5 ans pas cher casquette oakland raiders etiqueta negra vestes en jean carr茅 hermes marseille

  9. gro脽handel neue ankunft frauen karriere rock sets elegante

    adidas boys 賱亘爻 乇賷丕囟賷 賱賱兀胤賮丕賱 賲賳 兀丿賷丿丕爻 3 6 卮賴賵乇賲丕乇賰丞 賳賷賵賮賳丿賷 乇噩丕賱賷 賰丕噩賵丕賱 丕賱爻毓賵丿賷丞 爻賵賯丨乇賮丞 氐賳賷毓 丌賱丞 丕賱賯丕賳賵賳 丕賱賵 乇賷賾丞 賲賳 丕賱丨乇賮 丕賱 賯賱賷丿賷丞 丕賱爻賵乇賷丞丕賱 卮賰賷賱丞 丕賱賲 賵賯毓丞 賱亘乇卮賱賵賳丞 賮賷 丕賱賰賱丕爻賷賰賵 賲賳 禺賱丕賱 丕丨匕賷丞

  10. 2018 japanese cotton sexy girl splicing patchwork push up bra lace women underwear bra set breathable black pink color

    mens turkey time crew socks women handbags fashion women messenger bags flap crossbody bag sling chain shoulder bolsa high quality small handbags ad earring design lyst wolford fatal 80 seamless stay up thigh highs in black shop couver womens fashion c…

  11. d谩msk谩 obuv sneakers m贸dn铆 a dostupn谩 obuv online botoshop

    kabelky elegantn铆 matnè°© kabelka do ruky extralife historie zna膷ky dè°©msk茅 bavln臎n茅 kalhoty gant koupit slevu dè°©msk茅 sportovn铆 oble膷en铆 leg铆ny adidas luxusn铆 zlat媒 prsten d臎tsk茅 pono啪ky na span铆 boma tmav臎 modrè°© spodn铆 prè°©dlo nese happy copious socks mod…

  12. loja do bikini

    爪讬驻讜 诇驻讞讜转 è®—è®± 讙诐 爪讬驻讜 诇讬讜转专 讛注讜谞讛 讛诪讗讻讝讘转 砖诇 专讬讗讚 讘讜讚讘讜讝 讙讝专讜转 讘讞讬谞诐 bernina 诪转讬 讛讻讬 讻讚讗讬 诇讛讝诪讬谉 讻专讟讬住讬 讟讬住讛 passportnews 谞注诇讬讬诐 讗讜专讟讜驻讚讬讜转 诇讙讘专讬诐 讗专讬讗诇 讗讜专讟讜驻讚讬讛 诪转拽讚诪转 讗专讬讗诇 讝讬讛讜诐 讗讜讜讬专 讜诪讚讚 讘讟讬讞讜转 jaguar israel 讛砖讻专转 讛诇讬拽讜驻讟专 诇讛讞诇拽转 讘讟讜谉 讛砖讻专讜转 专砖转…

  16. 銉偆銉撱儓銉?涓彜

    姘寸潃 銈儍銉椼儷 銇婃弮銇?銉氥偄銉儍銈按鐫€銈汇儍銉?銉曘偅銉冦儓銉嶃偣姘寸潃 銉°兂銈?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銈点兗銉曘儜銉炽儎 娴枫儜銉?绱绶氬绛?闀疯 銈搞儯銈便儍銉?au wowma 銉偊銉?銈炽兗銉?coach 銉愩儍銈?bag 銈偊銉堛儸銉冦儓 f28035 銉曘偂銈ゃ儷 銈儹銈广儨銉囥偅 銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銈枫儳銉儉銉笺儛銉冦偘 銈儵銉笺倰銇婇伕銇充笅銇曘亜 imblk 銉栥儵銉冦偗 閫氳博闄愬畾 sale 50锛卭ff 銈偊銉堛儸銉冦儓 瑕瓙銉氥偄 銉°儍銈汇…

  18. 毓賵丿 賲氐乇賷 賱賱亘賷毓 亘賲賰賴

    丕賮囟賱 賲賳 噩丕 賱丕賰賵爻 lacoste 丕丨匕賷丞 賵 賲賱丕亘爻 賵 丕賰爻爻賵乇丕 賵 丨賯丕卅亘3 賷卮賷乇 丕 爻丕丿丞 賯丕亘賱丞 賱丕賷 賳賵毓 胤亘丕毓丞 禺賲爻丕胤亘賷賯丕 丕賷賮賵賳 賲噩丕賳丕 賲賳 丕賱丕亘 爻 賵乇賵乇卮丞 毓賲賱 亘賱賵夭丞 賰乇賵卮賷賴 噩賳丕賳 crochet steps 禺胤賵丕 賰乇賵卮賷丞

  20. platena obuv panska

    vero moda underté…¶j sorel sté…¶vler tilbud bé…¶rnesté…¶vler pæ°“ udsalg isabel marant é…¶reringe polo parfume ecco sneakers bé…¶rn stine goya gul gave til min bedste veninde

  21. mamasaurus maternity pregnancy shirt plus size maternity available pregnancy announcement shirt gray by on etsy

    get quotations pretty polly womens nylon backseam tights dz09 bluetooth smart watch the miorre hot sexy robe and nightgown sets buy sexy black satin kids drivable kids on ride toy cars women cute sexy hot two piece charmeuse sleep shirt panty set linge…

  23. nike element 87 womens black

    bottines noires boucle costume de d茅guisement pas cher soutien gorge taille m coque lv samsung galaxy x cover lentilles de contact en ligne le griffon randonneur coque eellesse t茅l茅phone portable pas cher samsung soldes peter kaiser

  24. gioielli bigiotteria online

    21 off 2019 floral print overlay tankini set in basket ball orange teenage boy wearing swimming shorts stock photo smirno swimwear beverly beach by dorit spectacular deals on dkny printed ruffled one piece swimsuit logo swim shorts dsquared2 for boys m…

  26. 2020 nano 8 running

    viola reformation vestito anokhi kurtis ferrari abbigliamento miglior di linea stores for boho vestiti pretty little thing verde blazer vestito montage ivonne d collection occasion vestiti estivo saree frock design

  27. timberland 6 inch 膷izme outlet hrvatska 6 inch 膷izme

    渭蔚蟿伪尉蠅蟿伪 蟽慰蠀蠁位喂慰蠀 渭蠀蟻蟽喂谓畏 蟺位蠀谓蟿萎蟻喂伪 蟻慰蠉蠂蠅谓 miele 8 魏喂位蠋谓 尾喂尾位喂维蟻喂伪 蠀纬蔚委伪蟼 蟿慰蠀谓喂魏 milena 40160 渭蟺蠉蟻伪 魏伪喂 渭伪纬蔚喂蟻喂魏萎 6 蠂蟻萎蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿畏蟼 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 萎尉蔚蟻蔚蟼 魏慰蠀味喂谓伪 f3491 蠁蠈蟻蔚渭伪 maxi 蟺慰位蠀渭慰蟻蠁喂魏蠈 蠂伪魏喂 未喂伪魏蠈蟽渭畏蟽畏 蟿慰委蠂慰蠀 蟺维谓蔚位 3d square 纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚喂伪 伪尉蔚蟽慰蠀伪蟻 魏伪谓慰蠀谓 蟿畏 未喂伪…

  30. lego 煤lo啪n媒 box mm 膷erven谩

    b铆lo zlat茅 dè°©msk茅 ba膷kory toms boucle s ko啪铆拧kem fashion queen dè°©mske oble膷enie a mè´¸da 膷ierne elegantn茅 pre deti vesel茅 dreven茅 hra膷ky na prevliekanie jablko nausnice stribrne perly fotky levn臎 blesk zbo啪铆 tie najlacnej拧ie a najlep拧ie dar膷eky na posled…

  32. cargador iphone 5 amazon

    site oficial da dumond lojas de miami beach presente para homem personalizado chinelo slide da coca cola cal莽ado senhora tamanhos grandes arma莽玫es de oculos de grau feminino 2019 saia longa marrom cores da moda para vestidos

  36. fine art tattoo studio home

    etui flip cover samsung s4 br膮zowygalaxy tab e 9.6 housse etui coque tablette samsung galaxycoque samsung galaxy a5 2017 design chatetui ceinture clip galaxy a40 v茅ritable cuir noir int茅rieur microfibre

  41. p艂aszcz sk贸rzany m臋ski dorjan erk451 szary

    græ°“ melert lang genser dame mote bpc bonprix collection vila kl盲nning fræ°“n vila dam kl盲nningar vit g眉m眉艧 rengi deri ceket dvije ideje za ure膽enje dje膷je sobe klå¿™r for kvinner klå¿™r som passer for voksne kvinner mote parajumpers women super lightweight j…

  43. politie cruiser 5673

    spring shopping special womens gucci horsebit calfskin leather belt gucci bags fall winter 2016 2017 handbags for women 41 kardashian gucci bag gucci leather wallet blue green black elastic strap rubber holder on gucci bags authentic gucci marmont velv…

  44. marmar modal body uden å¿™rmer coral rose

    gps ure trygge gps ure til bé…¶rn jollyroom gossip shop high end multi brand store skjorter nike fodboldsté…¶vler neymar hæ°“ndklå¿™der 70 ké…¶b stine goya kvinder simply baby lyseré…¶d diastasis rehab splint new luxury brand havaianas kvinna sandaler rose guld

  45. r暖啪ov谩 拧aty velikost铆 s speci谩ln铆 sekce protest letitgo

    venti slim fit b铆lè°© ko拧ile se strukturou a tmavomodr媒m vnit艡n铆m l铆mcem prodlou啪en媒 rukè°©v 膷铆nskè°© vojenskè°© 膷epice hailys tmav臎 modr媒 dè°©msk媒 pruhovan媒 svetr hailys julie dè°©msk茅 拧aty adidas heureka dè°©msk茅 svetry dorothy perkins zbo啪铆 sedac铆 soupravy 3 2 1…

  46. jacheta denim co

    filtru de vapori marvel a1 3m 6051 s pentru masca semimasca gama 6000pantofi stella negrii box 144 box negruvanzare fierbinte skechers cizme de iarna magazin online devand patut din lemn cu saltea si aparatori

  47. lu藕na 偶贸艂ta bluzka z 艂a艅cuszkiem przy dekolcie bialcon

    kahverengi desa k眉rk 82 陌ndirimli 180 tl. modacruz motorcu tarz haki deri mont vibratore classico vaginale stimolatore clitoride t shirt sipari艧 lescon 6902 outdoor kadè°‹n spor ayakkabè°‹ nike ebernon low kadè°‹n krem spor ayakkabè°‹ en p艂aszcz m臋ski szary zd…

Comments are closed.