The Early Percussion Music of John Cage, 1935-1943.
Ph.D. Dissertation, Michigan State University, 1990. 259 pp. Order from University Microfilms Price List: www.proquest.com/products_umi/dissertations/orderingres.shtml

Ordering Information: www.proquest.com/products_umi/dissertations/disexpress.shtml
ORDER NUMBER 9117879

Review:
May 8, 2008
If you are searching for clear, authoritative insights into Cage's early works for percussion, you should read B. Michael Williams' Ph.D. thesis, The Early Percussion Music of John Cage, 1935-1943. It is superb.

This one handy text contains information gleaned from many sources and includes interviews of Cage by Dr. Williams. His meticulous analysis and thoughtful questions drew insights from Cage that lift veils of ambiguity and illuminate these seminal works for today's performers.

For example, Cage's description of the thundersheets he used in First Construction (In Metal) is revelatory. It resolves irksome interpretive issues and alone is worth the price of the book.

Much has been written about John Cage and, in my opinion, Dr. Williams' thesis should be on any essential list of reading for all percussionists; performers, teachers and students.

Robin Engelman
Member of Nexus,
The Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame,
Conductor/Director the University of Toronto Faculty of Music Percussion Ensemble, 1975-2007.