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. skechers femme go sport

    coque burberry galaxy s3 mini blouse medicale femme amazon parure de lit noel robe longue gatsby jordan 6 fille maillot de bain chic chaussure de decharge chargeur trottinette electrique 36v

  5. xero shoes genesis barefoot tarahumara huarache style minimalist lightweight running sandals men

    bayan kap艧onlu s陌yah der陌 kaban啪ieminis paltaslpg composite cylinder manufacturer time techno plast亘丕乇卮 讴蹝 亘毓丿 讴乇丕趩蹖 讴蹝 毓賱丕賯蹝 趫賵亘 诏卅蹝 爻蹝

  6. p艂aszcz m臋ski sklep

    unboxing new nike run swift ubrania lniane w lidlu gazetka 27 maja 1 czerwca 2019 puma men one 19.1 fg ag cleats green soccer football shoes boot spike gen莽 erkek spor ayakkabè°‹ modelleri kvinna i sexiga nattkl盲der som bort ser arkivfoto bild av bluzka…

  7. tuonroad mens 3d printed hawaiian shirt relaxed regular casual short sleeve shirt beach holiday aloha button

    new deals on nike plus size sportswear just do it leggings a.n.a womens v neck camisole jcpenney topshop floral button front cami mens funny swiss t shirt switzerland is calling and i must go 2xl slate clothing hurleyfloral print boardshort 20 little p…

  8. samsung galaxy tab home charger adapter unpacked

    sykkelhjelm rosa blomst 46 54 cm sekk finn vesker og sekker pæ°“ kelkoo hva man kan gjé…¶re næ°“r et barn ikke vil spise du er mamma lego technic 42082 stor terrengkran emporio armani logo hoodie grey melange s lerretsbilde bakgrunn fra fargerike sé…¶tsaker av…

  13. haute qualit茅 nike air max command homme

    nike air max 1 m盲ns running sko græ°“ vitnike sportswear mayfly woven trainers svart rabatterade nike kvinnor skorhæžšst vinter 2017 tr盲ningsskor sverige reebok crossfit lifter 2.0 herr neon blafavorit nike nya stil performance lunarglide 6 stabilty runnin…

  14. varjak lakomè°©ja sinka istvè°©n vè°©rosi kæžšnyvtè°©r

    nyè°©ri olcsè´¸ n艖i cip艖 espadrilles loeffler loeffler tjocka katter vill ocksæ°“ dansa ootd crafter kaban s陌yah riley kavaj stl 38 175 lumen cat torcia led da lavoro tascabile in abs nè°©u拧nice z b铆l茅ho zlata pro miminka mancs 艖rjè°©rat ovis hè°©tizsè°©k 36cm look…

  15. manteau de ski oakley homme isefac alternance

    pam盲tn茅 v铆nov茅 poh谩re 1900 b staro啪itnosti r1p谩nsk茅 ta拧ky tom tailor p谩nsk谩 膷ern谩 ta拧ka joscha czk4deti de钮om burza detsk茅ho o拧atenia tren膷铆nd谩msk茅 boty adidas tubular radial black black grey

  16. d艂ugi chabrowy p艂aszcz z paskiem

    銈点兂銈般儵銈?鍊ゆ 銇?銇ゃ伄銈广偪銈ゃ儷 銈儑銈ｃ儉銈?銈儶銈搞儕銉偣 銉儑銈ｃ兗銈瑰附瀛愩伄鍟嗗搧涓€瑕?銈兗銉溿兂iphone銈便兗銈?/a> 銈便兗銈?銈儛銉?楂樼礆鎰熴亗銈嬨偨銉曘儓銉偠銉肩礌鏉?gucci 銉濄兗銉?鏂颁綔 婵€瀹?浜烘皸銉偄銈点偆銈簒l 銉娿偆銈?銉戙兗銈兗 鑹层偘銉兗 銈点偆銈簒l 銈裤偘浠樸亶鏈娇鐢?韬箙绱?5cm韬笀绱?1cm t銈枫儯銉?銉濄儹銈枫儯銉勩偟銈ゃ偤琛?銈儶銈搞儕銉儣銉兂銉堛偊銈с偄 銉愩儍銈?/a>

  17. scarpe stile birkenstock

    lenti luce blu prezzo catalogo benetton bambini primavera estate 2016 fustelle prezzi vestiti primaverili donna gucci sneakers pelle blu zaini di barbie per scuola scarpe ugg bambina only abbigliamento roma

  18. malibumemphis

    black velvet mcqueen trainers survetement adidas go sport porte carte jerome dreyfuss adidas zx 750 marron bleu air jordan 3 lila grau babolat propulse fury men

  20. swarovski fidelity ring gold

    讬诇拽讜讟 nici 讟专讜诇讬 讚讙诐 转讻诇转 拽讗驻拽讬讬拽诪讝讜讜讚讜转 住诪住讜谞讬讬讟 讘诪讘爪注 诪讗诪讝讜谉 shopguide注讙诇转 拽讜讘讬讜转 鈧?42.25住讟 诇转讬谞讜拽 诇讜讜讬转谞讬诐

  21. giants cap swap get a free oakland as cap

    furla primavera estate 2017 furla lucky s vbr dettagli su scarpe donna sneaker con fibia love moschino nere lucide scarpe camminata sportiva uomo viale nero bianco bavaglino per battesimo bauletto cecilia scarpe da uomo sneakers adidas originals forum…

  23. gucci men jacket size 26 tradesy

    prada leather card holder black saffiano metal nero gucci unisex swiss g timeless two tone stainless steel bracelet prada rose print nylon top handle bag gucci new little bee bow ladies slipper gucci shoes 35 41 red gucci high top shoes shoes reviews c…

  24. full life maritime kapocs z谩ras kark枚t艖 nemesac茅l fekete feh茅r cs铆kos

    fiskars functional form lè°©bas februè°©ri ingyenes jè°©t茅kok xbox live gold 2019 bytech tv samsung 43 uhd led smart tv expert guide london vilè°©gos piros rè´¸zsasz铆n f茅rfi ing m 3 400 ft baby design lupo comfort 3 in 1 multifunkciè´¸s babakocsi 07 graphite mè°©rkè°©…

  27. supreme contrast ripstop camp cap 銉溿儍銈偣銉偞 銈枫儱銉椼儶銉笺儬 銈儯銉炽儣 銈儯銉冦儣 銉栥儷銉?鏂板搧 鏈墿

    toddler boy jumping beans peanuts snoopy usa graphic tee hugo boss swim trunks new old clothes vintage t shirt no fair no fear black black large size used men cheap funny t shirts online shopping cheap sale cotton t shirts for boys alice in oh snap its…

  30. shop online maglioni

    gucci ace sneaker with removable patches in 9060 white gucci business card holder awesome gucci leather business card holder card case unused vintage 90s bootleg gucci tshirt mens size m notorious big versace sunglasses gucci doctor handbag vintage for…

  31. 銉戙兗銉嗐偅銉?銈枫儳銉笺儷 瀹夈亜

    鑲岀潃 鏂扮敓鍏?鍙剾銇?妤藉ぉ銈广兗銉戙兗銈汇兗銉?閫佹枡鐒℃枡 銉┿偘 銉炪儍銉?銉┿偘銉炪儍銉?/a> 鍊や笅銇?搴楅牠銈堛倞瀹夈亜 銉┿偣銉? 鏂板搧 銉忋兂銈裤兗 銉兗銉曘偂銉?榛?銈儵銈枫偒銉偍銉儠 classical elf 銈炽儍銉堛兂銉儘銉硋銉嶃儍銈偡銉ｃ儎t amazon 銉淬偅銉淬偅銈兂 銈︺偍銈广儓銈︺儍銉?vivienne westwood 銉偆銉淬偅銉堛兂 闀疯病甯?銈ㄣ償 銉濄偡銈с儍銉?銉濄儷銉?銉儘 銈儸銉囥偅nm m63592 銉庛儻銉笺儷…

  32. lp ji艡铆 zmo啪ek nejhez膷铆 d谩rek aukro

    luxusn铆 b铆l茅 keramick茅 dè°©msk茅 vod臎odoln茅 hodinky foibos desigual kardigan dè°©msk媒 pè°©nsk茅 funk膷n铆 elastick茅 kalhoty craft pr hybrid knickers rainbow klasick茅 vy拧拧铆 kalhotky sada retro rules alessandra ambrosio went for a seventies inspired look in los an…

  33. alpargatas para mujer de moda gucci

    nov媒 m贸dn铆 d谩msk茅 tmav臎 modr谩 pro拧铆van谩 bunda bugattiadidas answer tour360 boost golf obuv boty p谩nsk谩 b铆l谩 zlatop谩nske anal贸gov茅 hodinky klenotynike air max 90 pinnacle d谩msk茅 b茅啪ov茅 hn臎d茅 膷ern茅

  34. casual attitude domino marin senaste modell dam kl盲der

    beaufort é—ˆ?銉椼兗銉?銉忋兗銉曘儜銉炽儎 銈点偆銈簂 銉椼兗銉?puma 鏂板搧 涓彜銇?/a> 銉戙兂銉椼偣 銈点兂銉€銉?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銈广儓銉┿儍銉?銉忋偆銉掋兗銉?é—ˆ?銉併儯銉炽偔銉笺儝銉笺儷 澶儝銉笺儷 澶?銉掋兗銉?銈枫儱銉笺偤 銉熴儱銉笺儷 姝┿亶銈勩仚銇?缇庤剼 amazon vans 銈广儖銉笺偒銉?/a> 妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 姘寸潃 銈儵銉笺儘銈ゃ儞銉?銈儍銈?銈儍銈?銉欍儞銉?銉椼兗銉?puma 瀹夊叏闈淬倰閫氳博 瀹夊叏闈淬伄灏傞杸搴?鍒舵湇閬撳牬 闆昏┍ 銉…

  38. reebok answer iv blue

    adidas all star rosse puma xs850 pink nike air uptempo uomo rosso adidas springblade 4 green veste reebok classic femme violet nike air max 90 hyperfuse online nike backpack turquoise special vans

  39. thescoopbox

    zapatos zapatillas limited nike white womens leighton vander esch road jersey nfl 55 dallas cowboys vapor untouchable br膮zowe buty na obcasie ted baker starh star lace ruffle dress vestidos de moda largos 2019 zapatillas negras mujer deportivas

  40. nike cuffed knit hat

    diamond case iphone 6 plus buy panthers jersey lacoste white casual shoes nike fg soccer cleats white t shirt crop top cheap official soccer jerseys youth converse shoes soldier 10 blue nikelebron

  41. mk lexington damen

    schleich 14515 brachiosaurus langhals dino dinosaurier replica saurus neutrendy dukkevogn i pink blæ°“billig bé…¶rneté…¶j outlet14379 costbart gene flé…¶jl nederdel sort

  44. weekday rosella trouser bukser damer offwhite té…¶j

    gucci 銈般儍銉?銇?gucci gg鍨嬫娂銇椼儸銈躲兗 2銇ゆ姌銈婅病甯?璨″竷 銉°兂銈?銉°兗銈兗 amazon 銉儶銉笺偄銉炽偢銉?lily ange 銉忋偆銉嶃儍銈?涓婂搧 銉兂銈?銉偍銉?loewe 銉忋兂銉儍銈偣銉兗銉儛銉冦偘 hammock small bag 銉忋兂銉夈儛銉冦偘 銈枫儳銉儉銉间粯 38712kbn60 銈点兂銉?銉熴兂銈偒銉┿兗 gucci 闀疯病甯冪編鍝?銉溿儷銉夈兗 銉斻兂銈?銉戙偆銈姐兂 amazon jocolate 姘寸潃 銈汇儜銉…

  50. prada padded neon nylon tote bag in pink

    indesit vaatwasser rvs inbouw marlies dekkers archieven patricias luxe lingerie emma bale is het nieuwe gezicht van zalando denim maat 52 54 omrekenen graceland zwarte gesloten pump gratis bezorgd en retour goedkope ten cate dames strings in de uitverk…

Comments are closed.