The Guests Go in To Supper: John Cage, Robert Ashley, Yoko Ono, Laurie Anderson, Et Al

by Sumner Carnahan (Editor), Melody Sumner (Editor), Kathleen Burch (Editor)

Music. Designated by the NEA in 1987 as one of the "best independent press books of the year," this book is compilation of the texts, scores, and ideas of seven American composers who use words as an integral part of their compositions. Each chapter includes a text in the form of libretto or lyrics, often with complete score. Also included are interviews with each composer about her or his ideas on music, daily life, consciousness, the future, and possibilities. "If you buy only one book on the contemporary, experimental performing arts, this is unquestionably the one to get"--Dean Suzuki, Option Magazine.

384 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1986

About the author

Carnahan has 12 books in print, including the award-winning audiowork/book, THE TIME IS NOW, and her latest story collection from Teksteditions, YOU ARE NOT ASLEEP. Published in anthologies, CDs, DVDs, broadcast internationally in collaboration with composers and performers, acknowledgements include the NEA, an ABC Radio Fellowship (Australia), IPPY book awards, and a 2010 Eric Hoffer Legacy Fiction Award, for ONE INCH EQUALS TWENTY-FIVE MILES. A new story was published in the Teksteditions anthology, WHAT IS THE SOUND OF SMOKE, 2014.

- “There have been few precedents to this kind of sustained avant-garde literature with a moving human content.” — The Oakland Tribune
- “The most musical prose since Gertrude Stein.” —The Village Voice
- “No other writer since e. e. cummings has inspired such a wealth of innovative music.” — Dictionary of the Avant-Gardes

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other than the fact that I would not like to have dinner with Michael Peppe, this was quite a nice read.

[Evan Pincus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably essential, but MAN Michael Peppe is insufferable. Wonder what he'd think of my new performance piece "punching him in the face"?

[Mary-Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique to me the format of the essays. Particularly taken with John Cage, Yoko Ono, Charles Amirkhanian. It's out there.