Planxty Cage for solo piano (1993) (including “Postlude” from Planxty Cage)
By Paul Paccione
Planxty Cage (1993) for solo piano Rain on Rahoon falls softly, softly falling. . . . (from She Weeps over Rahoon, James Joyce) "I'm an Englishman. I have a little French blood and a little Scottish blood. I would love to have some Irish blood, but I don't. Maybe if I were ill and had a transfusion in Dublin, I could have some Irish blood. (John Cage to Stephen Montague) This work transfers many of the strumming techniques, melodic outlines, scales, harmonies and ornaments of ancient Irish harp music to the piano, in a contemporary and personal setting. The term "planxty" was originally used by the great itinerant harpist-composer Turlough O'Carolan (16701738). It is derived from Latin. Although its exact meaning is not known, it is thought to be a form of salute. This work is my own "salute" to John Cage. The short “Postlude” at the end of Planxty Cage is based on a tune by Turlough O’Carolan and may be presented as a stand-alone work. It was recorded by pianist Nurit Tilles and appears on the c.d. “Our Beauties Are Not Ours,” New World Records (2010), Cat. No. 80706: (www.newworldrecords.org)
Published by Frog Peak Music, Box 1052, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03766; www.frogpeak.org (Cover image by John Cage)