Verbalization

Using verbal instructions to tell musicians how to perform a piece, rather than traditional musical notation.

This practice developed in the 20th century and was probably originated by KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN. One of his pieces represents a parabolic curve with the following inscription: "Sound a note. Continue sounding it as long as you please. It is your prerogative." JOHN CAGE elevated verbalization to the degree of eloquent diction. Earle Brown and Morton Feldman are inventive verbalizationists.

Some classic examples of this type of score include:

LA MONTE YOUNG tells the player: "Push the piano to the wall. Push it through the wall. Keep pushing."

Nam June Paik dictates: "Cut your left arm very slowly with a razor (more than 10 centimeters)."

Philip Corner limits himself to a simple command: "One anti-personnel type CBU [cluster bomb unit] will be thrown into the audience."