"It is rare to discover a previously unknown work by John Cage today. So, what are the chances of discovering two major piano pieces from the same period of 1950-51? Thanks to the dedicated work of Don Gillespie, who was Cage’s contact at the publisher C. F. Peters Corp., and composer Walter Zimmermann, we have the two works recorded here. Both were discovered at the New York Public Library at Lincoln Center.

These 'Haiku' are not to be confused with the previously published 'Seven Haiku' (1951-52). They reflect a fascinating musical path from the almost tonal 'Haiku I', in a language similar to the 'Sixteen Dances', to a completely atonal style, akin pitch-wise to the 'Music of Changes' (1951), but without using chance methodology. They confirm the powerful influence on Cage of the Zen Buddhist master Daisetz Suzuki, whose lectures Cage attended at Columbia University in March 1951.

I can recall the excitement when composer Walter Zimmermann approached me about his discovery of a major piano work by Cage — the 'Sixteen Dances'. He was convinced that this was not just a piano sketch for the well-known ensemble version, nor a reduction for rehearsal and performances of the Cunningham choreography for that piece. And so it is: a piano piece which is at times both virtuostic, showing Cage’s influence of Boulez, and at other times mystical and open to chance. The ensemble version calls for 100 percussion instruments. Cage’s piano score gives sonic allusion to these, and the sound of gongs and tam tams are a major part of the last two dances. Zimmermann used this influence to score alternate versions of these dances for piano & percussion.

This recording presents both the full piano solo version and the movements for piano and percussion. Includes booklet with essays by Gillespie & Zimmermann." Brian Brandt, mode records

Cologne based pianist Jovita Zähl studied with Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden, Aloys Kontarsky, David Levine and others. She is active as a soloist and chamber musician, and half of the pianoduo elaeis. She has recorded on the Mode (works of Crumb & Brown), Wergo and Fidula labels. Percussionist Thomas Meixner studied with Christoph Caskel in Cologne. He is a member of the Schlagquartett Köln and MusikFabrik, of which he is a founding member.