Cover Design: Ott + Stein, Berlin; Scan: Christine Berkenhoff

"Finally I realized that the kind of sound made in an indeterminate situation includes what could result in no other way; for example, the sound of a player making up his mind, or having to change it. In fact, the indeterminate notation I've used is, as far as I know,
the only possible one for the kind of sound I should like. And don't forget, we also like to be surprised.

...and the rhythm produced by that situation is like no other rhythm."

Most of the pieces collected for this portrait of Christian Wolff document the composer's early activity and were mainly recorded around the time of their composition. Each recording exemplifies the sound gestures from their time.

• For Pianist, 1959, Version 1 Frederic Rzewski, Klavier
• Duo for Violinist and Pianist, 1961 János Négyesy, Violine; Cornelius Cardew, Klavier
• Lines für Streichquartett, 1972 Società Cameristica Italiana
• For Prepared Piano, 1951 Frederic Rzewski, Klavier
• For Piano I, 1952 Frederic Rzewski, Klavier
• For 1, 2 or 3 People, 1964 David Tudor, Barockorgel
• Edges, 1968 Gentle Fire
• For 1, 2 or 3 People, 1964 Nelly Boyd
• Drinks für Gläser und Getränke, 1969 Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Neue Musik des Staatlichen Leininger Gymnasiums Grünstadt
• Stones (aus Prose collection), 1968 Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Neue Musik des Staatlichen Leininger Gymnasiums Grünstadt
• Suite (I) für präpariertes Klavier, 1954 Fuat Kent, Klavier
• Duo for Violins, 1950 Biliana Voutchkova, Daniella Strasfogel, Violine
• For Pianist, 1959 David Tudor, Klavier
• For Piano I, 1952 David Tudor, Klavier
• Suite (I) für präpariertes Klavier, 1954 David Tudor, Klavier
• Edges, 1968 Keith Rowe, Gitarre

Total time approx. 159 Minuten



Audio sample 1: Duo for Violinist and Pianist (Format: MP3)





Audio sample 2: Suite (I) for prepared piano (Format: MP3)



(FlashPlayer for MP3 audio samples provided by Flowplayer)