In its original incarnation, John Cage's enigmatic 49 WALTZES FOR THE 5 BOROUGHS offers no hints as to how it might be performed; the "score," such as it is, consists only of 49 triangles drawn on a map of New York City. The points and lines, selected by chance, do not indicate notes or rhythms, but rather invite listeners to consider the sounds and textures that exist naturally in the city. This video realization of the piece accepts the challenge: director Don Gillespie ventures to every point on Cage's map and capture the music--car sirens, birds singing, people talking--that exists naturally along the way. The finished project combines sounds from 147 locations into an intriguing, nostalgic rumination on the diverse vibrations of urban life.
