"Cage Shock" Homage to His First Japan Visit

Japan Society Performing Arts
Thursday, December 7, 7:30 pm
   —Pre-concert lecture at 6:30 pm 
   —Followed by a Private Gathering for Artists and Members
A paid livestream option is also available for this event.

Playbill (PDF) →
​
In collaboration with experimental sound artists Tania Caroline Chen and Victoria Shen, Tomomi Adachi recreates the essence of John Cage’s historic visit to Japan in 1962, often referred to as “Cage Shock.” Through renditions of Cage’s iconic pieces, such as Haiku and 0’00”, Adachi captures the spirit of that transformative tour. The program also features Toshi Ichiyanagi’s Sapporo, which premiered in 1962 and was conducted by John Cage. Ichiyanagi (1933-2022), an esteemed Japanese composer and the first husband of Yoko Ono, developed a close friendship with Cage during his 1950s residency in New York City and played a pivotal role in organizing Cage’s inaugural trip to Japan, with visits to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and the city of Sapporo.
A lecture on how the pieces in this radical program were received in Japan at the time, led by John Cage scholar Dr. James Pritchett, precedes the concert.

For this concert, International Contemporary Ensemble members include Kyle Armburst (viola), Katinka Kleijn (cello), Michael Nicolas (cello) and Mike Lormand(trombone).