Improvisation Rites: from John Cage's 'Song Books'

This is an account of collective improvisation performances in London, starting with John Cage's 'Song Books' and going on to, The Scratch Orchestra's previously unexplored collection of text scores from 1969 'Nature Study Notes'. The narrative is made from a collage of the emails, minutes of meetings, press releases, Facebook posts, documentary photographs and quotations from the scores which are woven together with writings by Stefan Szczelkun. It gives a unique insight into an inter-generational and collectively wrought reprise of these scores that are key to understanding the history of experimental music.

Most of the participants provided some text or graphic content to the book. I can only take credit for assembling it. I’d like to thank the wonderful photographers Martin Dixon, Dierdre McGale and Stathis Mamalakis. I should also mention that this whole process was self-funded on a shoe-string, as was the original Scratch Orchestra, and so is independent of art-world publishing influence or finesse.

"If you are interested in the role of experimental art in England as I am, then this book is worth a read." Simon Poulter UK

"I've read a very important book. For what my opinion is worth, I strongly recommend this reading!" Proposte Sonore  a.k.a. Giovanni Antognozzi, ITALY

“His culminating leap of faith to the assertion that improvisation rites might provide a ‘possible means to world change’ appears hopelessly utopian. But as a means to catalyse insight into the condition of our sensory awareness and our desires he may yet be proved in time to have a point.” Julian Cowley, The Wire 410