If you were a composer today...

[karlhenning]

I'll find the Finale files, make a slight adjustment to them, and send you pdf files sometime tomorrow.  Let me know!  And many thanks!

Done, and therefore YHM

[Chaszz]

Often one art can positively influence another art. While many of those who do visual art are using the time-honored proven traditions of Dadaism (anti-art, shock value, condemnation of the bourgouisie/art consumer) to achieve notoriety and success, composers have not been mining this resource much since Cage. Since this approach is virtually devoid of practitioners now, the first few composers who adapt it will no doubt become rich, famous and enshrined in music history. Therefore I suggest the following sample strategies, to which clever composers can add their own ideas & concepts:

1. Hoist a white piano to the top of a flagpole in Times Square and train a pigeon to play the Apassionata sonata on it.

2. Jump off the  Brooklyn Bridge while unfurling a parachute that says "This is a symphony" on it.

3. Train 1,000 earthworms to sing the "Ode To Joy" from Beethoven's 9th (do not be afriad to transpose the key if necessary - this kind of endeavor requires willingness to innovate).

4. Write four string quartets (do not be afraid of the old time-worn form in this case - you are casting a new light on it) and have them eaten by four obese contestants on a reality show. The first quartet to be completly eaten is played at the New Composers festival at Bard College next summer.

4. Negotiate a royalty deal with Johnson and Johnson to have your horn concerto marketed in ground-up form as a Special Edition Foot Powder.

If the sizzling world of visual art is any example, these ideas only begin to tap the possibilities of which Cage barely scratched the surface. Further development of this approach will result in a much headier musical culture as well as many wealthy composers. Best of all, anyone can compose, no training or melodic talent necessary. What are we all waiting for?