Yuji Takahashi “John Cage: Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano”

Yuji Takahashi

John Cage: Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano

Denon (Japan) 1975

OX-7059-ND (LP)

sleeve : VG+(SPSE: 4cm crack on top, wear on edge and corner, dirts.)

media : VG+/VG+(light surface noises.)

This album was released in 1975 by Yuji Takahashi, a contemporary musician, composer and pianist who studied music theory with Iannis Xenakis and is active worldwide alongside Toshi Ichiyanagi and Toru Takemitsu. This is a performance of the Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano, composed between 1946 and 1948 by John Cage, one of the most important avant-garde musicians of the 20th century. All the music is minimalist, with nails and screws inserted between the strings of a grand piano to distort the sound, and fingers plucking and striking the strings to create a percussive rhythm. It has a lot in common with African folk percussion instruments such as the thumb piano. The interpretation and performance of Yuji Takahashi is really wonderful.