Fontana Mix, John Cage

Artwork

Yellow Edition Peters score cover reading John Cage, Fontana Mix, EP 6712. — John Cage, Fontana Mix (1958). Cover of the Edition Peters score materials, EP 6712, as currently supplied by the publisher; this cover’s printing date is not specified. John Cage. Edition Peters, EP 6712, ISMN 9790300735290. Image source: Edition Peters Publications. Image source.

This landmark, hugely influence piece of chance music consists of a graphic score of transparent sheets the performer superimposes to derive a realisation. Cage remains the composer most willing to explore “chance operations” in the composition and performance of music.

Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random, fact-checked September 2026.

Sources

medienkunstnetz.de

People

John Cage

Movements

Chance Art, generative art, Generative Music

Filed under

Ideas: chance, Chance Art, chance operations, generative art, Generative Music, graphic notation, indeterminacy, music, notation, performance
People: John Cage
Works: Fontana Mix

Echoes across time

Le Random editorials

Mario Klingemann & A.I.C.C.A. on Alien Perspective, Peter Bauman, March 10, 2025
Inside qubibi’s Shinjuku Studio, Peter Bauman, December 18, 2024
Gendering Systems, Vienna Kim, August 15, 2024
Mona Lisa to monogrid, Peter Bauman, March 6, 2024

Explore all Le Random editorials and artist interviews

Le Random podcast

Timeline Ch 1—Pre-Modern Era with Marius Watz — listen with transcript on Le Random (06 Jul 2023, 46 min). Transcript mentions John Cage. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
Timeline Ch 3—Analog Era (1950s) with Georg Bak — listen with transcript on Le Random (10 Aug 2023, 65 min). Transcript mentions John Cage. Chapter 3’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
Timeline Ch 9—AI Era (2010s) with Tyler Hobbs, Helena Sarin, Rhea Myers & Gene Kogan — listen with transcript on Le Random (30 Jul 2024, 51 min). Transcript mentions John Cage. Apple Podcasts · Spotify