DAUGHTERS OF THE LONESOME ISLE by John Cage Joshua Pierce, Piano John Cage’s Daughters of the Lonesome Isle (1912-1992) is recognized as an important innovator in many areas, such as percussion music, noise liberation, philosophical Dadaism, and prepared piano. Daughters was composed in 1945 for dance and has 19 distinct atmospheric sections. It was recorded for the first time by Joshua Pierce on the Wergo label (WER 60157-50). It utilizes advanced preparations of 36 keys of a traditionally tuned piano by placing various implements (e.g., rubber, screws, bolts, etc.) between the strings inside the piano. The effect is of rich aggregates of timbral inharmonicity, distorting the usual piano sound by turning the instrument into a colorful percussion ensemble.

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