Fontana Mix (1958) | John Cage | 3145720

In Fontana Mix, Cage creates a work for six orchestras, each of which is assigned a different set of musical instructions. The instructions for each orchestra are written on cards, which are placed in envelopes and distributed to the orchestras. The instructions on the cards specify the types of sounds that the orchestra should make, the duration of the sounds, and other elements of the performance. However, the specific order in which the instructions are carried out is left open to the interpretation of the performers, creating an element of indeterminacy and chance in the composition.

Cage's use of indeterminacy and chance operations in Fontana Mix reflects his interest in exploring new ways of making music and challenged traditional notions of composition and performance. By leaving the interpretation of the instructions open to the performers, Cage creates a work that is different each time it is performed, and that allows for a wide range of possibilities and variations.

Cage’s work has a deep influence in the field of music notation, and he also created an archive of more than 100 experimental notations and their purposes. This inspired this study to try to create similar systems as traditional music notation does not contain something more than actual notes and systematic rhythms. John Cage and other musicians and designers have created experimental music notation, to some extent very subjective, but aim to display more information such as emotional expression or novel ways of sound representations to implant humanity. 

In John Cage’s own archive, ‘notation’, he writes that there is no single explanation of the notations, but he presented some quotes that draw people's minds into rethinking the role of musical score and notations from these musicians. In these quotes, they formed to introduce the idea of developing the notations and follow up with the music trends as time goes on. ‘Musical Ideas and notation are separated as a matter of convenience. They are actually interdependent – inseparable.