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. especial bodas 2013 diez claves de protocolo para la madrina

    芯斜蟹芯褉 芯褌 锌芯泻褍锌邪褌械谢褟 薪邪 锌谢芯泄泻邪 babyliss pro bab2665e miracurl褋褌懈谢褜薪褘械 卸械薪褋泻懈械 锌谢邪褌褜褟 斜芯谢褜褕懈褏 褉邪蟹屑械褉芯胁薪芯胁芯褉褨褔薪懈泄 锌芯写邪褉褍薪芯泻 锌芯写褍褕泻邪 锌谢褞褕泻邪薪邪蟹胁懈 写械褉械胁 褋锌懈褋芯泻 泻褍谢褜褌褍褉 写谢褟 屑褨褋褌邪

  2. gmt master 1

    costumi interi imbottiti 2019 dolomite borsa da gucci uomo scarpe uomo sandali dc felpe donna set completo calcio illuminazione led da giardino abito e camicia blu felpa karl lagerfeld

  6. lentretien pr茅alable au licenciement un des droits des

    czapki i kapelusze m臋skie cropp kolekcja zima 2019 wyprzeda偶 tanio koszulki dla sportowcè´¸w gasp s obcis艂a elegancka sukienka z koronk膮 i falban膮 na plecach granatowa xl balony cyfry z艂ote 86 cm paj膮czek woolly i ma艂a tig maskotka pluszak 15cm srebrne k…

  10. girls camel chunky knit tutu peplum sweater

    dè°©mske zimn茅 softshellov茅 nohavice kilpi jeans w modrè°© 38 head case plastov媒 obal na mobil samsung galaxy a5 2017 vzor etnick茅 sovy r暖啪ovè°© a 拧edè°© nike air max 2016 levn茅 dè°©msk茅 zap铆nac铆 modrè°© r暖啪ovè°© 膷ernè°© swarovski nè°©ramok moon charm set ko啪a pè°©nsk茅 tr…

  11. supreme x gucci box logo tee 2 color 42

    3 piece palm ratchet set 1 4 in warn quick connect booster cables freud 14 x 24t thick stock rip blade buy black decker plastic toy tools in melissa doug tool epic transformation super clean haircut beard trim construction tools for jobsite safety beam…

  14. 渭喂魏蟻畏 魏伪渭蔚蟻伪 蟺伪蟻伪魏慰位慰蠀胃畏蟽畏蟽

    gorset zw臋偶aj膮cy tali臋 zegarki srebrne huarache nike czarne janod magnesy tanie tuniki damskie du偶e rozmiary buty sylwestrowe zabawki dla 3 5 letniej dziewczynki lego selgros

  15. beautiful bridal shining hollow leaves white crystal clear rhinestones faux pearl wedding bangles bracelet buy pearl bangles

    fashion fashion ladies clothing accessories large snowflakes buy women ethnic dresses online in india at best price givenchy boys grey logo print sweater cherry koko black ribbed lurex polo neck dress 100 silk heavy weight womens mock turtleneck short…

  16. reebok classic wei脽e ice

    red suede flat sand谩ly nmd r1 obuv 膷ern茅 hugo boss saturn low top sneaker puma uproar basketball obuv jordan retro 18 膷ern茅 a blue pink top b铆l茅 pants light 拧ed茅 slip on vans d谩msk茅 nike roshe little kid

  18. 褟泻芯谐芯 泻芯谢褜芯褉褍 锌谢邪褌褌褟. 褍胁械褋褜 褋胁褨褌 褔芯褉薪芯

    pilates naprave zdravje365hrt brazilski jiu jitsuelegantna srebrna zapestnica spletna trgovina iznaslonjaca啪enske usnjene torbice

  19. dkny bryant crossbody bag blush in rose

    shawl collar three quarter length shearling coat air jordan 14 forest green size 13 131 lyst nike epic lux womens 25.5 running tights in black chanel classic flap classic medium double in caviar blue navy shop michael kors riley black gold small flat c…

  22. nike air max 97 hombre el corte ingles

    emails sent to me are being or forwarded to me by my dolce gabbana dolce e gabbana shoes new heels other black kids motorcycle leather biker vest with laces larger columbus blue jackets youth authentic pro rinkside fleece pullover hoodie navy merkal de…

  23. hæ°“ndmalt julekule dompap bré…¶drene flaaré…¶nning as nettbutikk

    銈ㄣ儍銉嗐偅銉炽偓銉?ettinger bell key case 銉偠銉笺儥銉瀷銈兗銈便兗銈?妤姐偖銉?鍖呰 銉堛儵銉冦儔 銉忋偊銈?銉曘偗銈广儫 銉堛儶銉笺儛銉笺儊 闀疯病甯?銈偊銉堛儸銉冦儓 tory burch 18169285 001 銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銉栥儵銉冦偗 鏂板搧 绠便伄銉┿儍銉斻兂銈?銉偆銉淬偅銉堛兂 銉°兂銈?銉兂銈般儘銉冦偗銉偣 銉儙銈般儵銉?m62485 銉┿儍銉斻兂銈?蹇冩枎姗嬨儫銉ャ偧 comme des garcons comme des garco…

  26. nike cortez high

    cement 4 schwarz nike air max penny 1 air presto se 2020 cute gym wear vapormax Silber bullet 2019 nite runner adidas 2020 coeeze adidas terrex agravic by adidas

  28. tabla nike zapatillas

    zapatillas belle rebel fundas huawei 5a carteras fossil para hombre uniformes deportivos de barcelona de espa帽a reloj michael kors rosa dorado comprar jersey de rayas rojas y blancas wrangler pantalones jeans hombre bicicletas de bater铆a

  29. collection maillot de bain 2017

    collection homme hiver 2018 coque lebron samsung galaxy s6 plus jogging ralph lauren orange chat voyant medium gratuit filet de ping pong artengo bonnet prada sweat homme byron and brown coque balenciaga a6 samsung prix

  30. zapatos para caballero 2016

    animal print botines zapatillas deportivas ni帽a baratas primark online ni帽os coppel ropa caballero adidas leopardo fulares y pa帽uelos online zapatillas under armour entrenamiento coppel chamarras hombre

  32. jordan rojos

    long sleeve under armour compression shirt spectre x360 stan smith novitè„¿ gymnastics backpack james harden adidas pe saucony guide 8 uomo prezzi brooks pure grit sale champion sneakers womens 2013

  34. ruskinds vintersté…¶vle

    scarpe da matrimonio estivo cerimonia damigella costume principessa rosa minnie per bambina promozione camicie ritorna il risparmio targato ovs skechers flex appeal miracle sneakers da donna reggiseno fascia autoreggente schiene trasparenti intimissimi…

  35. 专讬讗诇 诪讜诇 诇讙讗谞住 讘砖诪讬谞讬转

    讻讚讜专讙诇 注讜诇诪讬 讛爪专讜转 砖诇讬 注诐 谞砖讬诐 谞注谞注10 注诪讜讚 320诪讻讘讬 拽专讬转 讬诐 讻讚讜专讙诇 拽专讬转 讬诐 讘讝拽 b144谞注诇讬 住驻讜专讟 brooks addiction walker拽讜诪住讬 拽讜诪住讛 讛诪住驻专讬诐 砖诇 诪讻讘讬 谞讙讚 讗砖讚讜讚 诪讜注讚讜谉 讛讻讚讜专讙诇 诪讻讘讬

  37. kan du trene næ°“r du er gravid

    vinterjakke kvinne nike superfly 6 academy fotballsko kunstgress gress junior isabel marant æ°“pner flagship butikk i oslo blue billie smykke letter d gold plated veskebutikker norge oslodrakten dame torshov sport gjé…¶vik fotballbutikk strandgata 28 gjé…¶vi…

  38. m盲dchen kleider amazon

    asics lightweight schuhe puma schuhe neue kollektion blackout shirt heine einrichtung und deko hofer trachten 2018 kleid dreiviertelarm knielang dirndl g眉nstig gr枚脽e 50 schwarze jeans gr 46

  39. scarpe casual on formal giletito

    jordan 1 off wei脽e university blue nike cordura Rucksack fila disruptor different colors orange sweatshirt amazon nike react element 87 puma ignite evoknit on feet nike rkk air force 1 patriots adidas pod 3.1 footlocker

  40. navy wedge heels

    ping pong professionnel tee shirt col polo femme deguisement lapin body nike bebe fille robe longue et large cartier manufacture chargeur induction iphone x robe noire mango dos nu

  41. flotte specielle kjoler

    poc borsetta da viaggio calze di babbo natale dove comprare maglioni di lana scarpe in goretex aku calzettoni givova abiti e tute eleganti gucci occhiali da sole piccoli uomo gucci borsa mare nera

  42. vans slip ons kids paris

    t shirt louis vuitton prix robe marque bebe nouvelle air max 720 bague reglable argent faire son tee shirt pas cher nappe ronde enduite unie coque coach samsung samsung samsung samsung samsung robe caftan blanc

  45. nike 銉娿偆銈?銇?娴峰闄愬畾 air more uptempo 銉娿偆銈?銉偄銉嗐兂

    銇ｃ仸浣曘仾銈擄紵 forride champion 銈儍銈?鐢枫伄瀛?缍?00é”›?銈广偊銈с儍銉堛儜銉炽儎 銉°兂銈?/a> 銈搞儳銉笺儉銉?銈枫儱銉椼儶銉笺儬 銈广儖銉笺偒銉?coach 銈枫儳銉儉銉笺儛銉冦偘 銈儣銉嗐偅銉冦偗銈枫偘銉嶃儊銉ｃ兗 7035 銉嶃偆銉撱兗 銉栥儷銉?/a> 銉ㄣ儷銉€銉炽儑銈ｃ儕銉笺儷銇彌閲戙仚銈嬫柟娉?鏈堛伄鐮傛紶 銉ㄣ儷銉€銉炽亱銈?amazon vangelo銉°兂銈恒偪銈偡銉笺儔闈磘ux 3銉曘偂銉冦偡銉с兂銇椼倧銇?/a> 妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 銈偆…

  46. str贸j k膮pielowy jednocz臋艣ciowy zalando

    伪纬蠈蟻喂 蟺伪喂未喂魏苇蟼 纬蟻伪尾维蟿蔚蟼 mayoral 蟺伪喂未喂魏维 蟻慰蠉蠂伪 bky 魏伪位位蠀谓蟿喂魏维 archives 慰渭慰蟻蠁喂维 魏伪喂 渭蠈未伪 纬喂伪 魏维胃蔚 纬蠀谓伪委魏伪 尉蠀位喂谓慰 蟿蟻伪蟺蔚味伪魏喂 蟽伪位慰谓喂慰蠀 魏伪蠁蔚 蟿伪渭蟺伪 蟺伪蟺慰蠀蟿蟽喂伪 纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚喂伪 渭蟺慰蟿伪魏喂 replay rumble leather jackets 伪谓未蟻喂魏维 蟻慰蠉蠂伪 渭伪纬喂慰 蟽位喂蟺 尾蟻伪味喂位喂伪谓喂魏慰 谓蔚慰谓 蠁慰蠀尉喂伪 纬蠀谓…

  47. cheap mens nike air max plus tn ultra running shoes black gold uk

    relogio orient automatico masculino 3 estrelas fundo azul dè°©msky horsk媒 bicykel ghost lanao 4.7 white 2018 爻毓乇 賵賲賵丕氐賮丕 samsung galaxy s9 plus 賲賲賷夭丕 賵毓賷賵亘 噩丕賱丕賰爻賷 alexander mcqueen borsa shopping butterfly nera in pelle ikrix neri in pelle adidas mikina…

  48. nike free 5.0 tr pink

    basket converse enfant adidas eqt support 93 17 nero e bianco air max 2016 chaussure puma by rihanna hombre precio t shirt manche longue superman saucony echelon 3 45 timberland londyn womens under armour sweaters on sale

Comments are closed.