John Cage's works from the late '30s and early '40s are predominantly experiments in composition for percussion ensembles. In 1990, the percussion ensemble Quartuor Hêlios took it upon themselves to record a sampling of these works. The recording quality is excellent and the performances are seamless. Included are the three "Construction" pieces, as well as two emotive pieces, "Amores" and "She Is Sleeping." The quartet -- comprised of percussion virtuosi Isabelle Berteletti, Jean-Christophe Feldhandler, Florent Haladjian, and
Lê Quan Ninh -- performs well together; the orchestra moves together as one unit with individual parts being barely indistinguishable. These pieces predate
Cage's experiments with chance, so there is nothing too remarkable about listening to these pieces for much variance in interpretation, but it is refreshing to hear
Cage's work performed with an ear, not so much for his innovation, but for the beauty of the sounds he composed -- an often-overlooked quality of his work. Also included is the
Cage/
Lou Harrison collaboration "Double Music," where the parts of the two percussionists were composed independently of one another. If you expect this recording to be harsh and brash, you will be surprised. There is a meditative, almost soothing quality to these pieces, despite their intensity and dynamic quality. An excellent collection.