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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How much time elapsed between the two times Yun Kiang met a man acting like an animal?

2. When is Cage's foreword dated?

3. "The Future of Music: Credo" was first printed to accompany a recording from whom?

4. "Imaginary Landscape No. 4" was written for how many radios?

5. Who asked Cage to discuss his "Music of Changes"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What advancements in music does Cage attribute to Henry Cowell?

2. How does Cage go about exploring the work of each composer he mentions in "Composition as Process--2: Indeterminacy"?

3. In "Experimental Music: Doctrine," how does Cage respond when asked what he had to say about rhythm?

4. Describe what Cage said about the French and the Italians in a conversation he recalls having at a Venetian restaurant.

5. Why does Cage format "Erik Satie" in a way where he and Satie never hear what the other is saying?

6. What does Cage comment on in the article "Forerunners of Modern Music"?

7. How does Cage describe the way Christian Wolff wrote music?

8. How does Cage describe the creation of "Music for Piano"?

9. How does Cage describe the process by which he created a piece of music scored for twelve radios?

10. What does Cage say about Erik Satie's relevance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the author's dedication to innovation and change as seen through his layout on the page. What are some of the techniques Cage uses when writing? What different visual styles does he use? Why do you think he does this? What is he trying to say with his non-traditional style of writing?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the author's feelings on the nature of sound. What does Cage say about sound in "Experimental Music: Doctrine"? What does he say about the nature of sound? What does he say about interpreting it?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the contrast created in Cage's essay which is an imaginary conversation between himself and Erik Satie. Discuss the mathematical presence in Cage's parts in relation to the near-poetic sensibility revealed in Satie's part. Why do you think the author takes this tone for his parts? Do you think he is really so cold about Satie? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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