1. Eric Andersen, Opus 25 (1961)
1 Select some objects which address themselves to your acoustic imagination.
2 Play with them according to a predetermined system.
2. Eric Andersen, Opus 27 (1961)
The frequency a’’’’ is played as a violin frequency for 30 seconds at intensity pp. Each year which passes after the first of April 1962 involves that the duration for which the frequency is played is lengthened by 5 seconds.
3. Ay-O, Rainbow No.1 for Orchestra
Soap bubbles are blown out of various wind instruments. The conductor breaks the bubbles with his baton.
4. Ay-O, Rainbow No.2 for Orchestra
A totally inexperienced orchestra plays a 7 note major scale on various instruments.
5. Don Boyd, A Performance Calendar, March (1989)
Watch the clouds on a sunny day for 10 minutes.
6. Robert Bozzi, A Piece for Chieko Shiomi (1966)
Performer lets the following objects fall from his hand in succession:
1 cigarette from horizontal outstretched arm in standing position
2 eraser from horizontal outstretched arm in standing position
3 hat from vertical outstretched arm instanding position
4 glass of water from horizontal outstretched arm while standing on stool or top of ladder
5 airmail envelope from vertical outstretched arm standing on a stool or top of ladder.
7. Robert Bozzi, Choice 10 (1966)
Four performers are divided into two teams. They draw lots for one violin. The winning team plays the violin while the other team tries to gain possession of it.
8. George Brecht, Drip Music (1959)
For single or multiple performance. A source of dripping water and an empty vessel are arranged so that the water falls into the vessel.
9. George Brecht, Symphony No.3, Fluxversion 1 (1964)
Orchestra members sit down on the very forward edge of the chair and hold instruments in ready position. Upon signal from the conductor, all players slide forward and fall smoothly off their chairs in unison.
10. George Brecht, For a Drummer (for Eric) (1966)
Drum on something you have never drummed on before.
Drum with something you have never drummed with before.
11. Henning Christiansen, Audience Eve (1964)
In the evening, during the performances:
… … …
after 5 min. turn off the light
after 5 min. turn on the light
… … …
continue through the whole program
12. Jed Curtis, Opus 1
One or more persons
do, sense, and/or think.
13. Luce Fierens, Possible Flux Performance or Postfluxgame (1987)
Take a balloon. Blow. Let it go. Say: ‘Goodbye’!!!
14. Albert M. Fine, Concerto for Solo Piano and Performer
Performer removes a different item from himself for each of the 88 notes: top hat,tie, shoe laces, pen, handkerchief, etc.
15. Ken Friedman, Whoop Event (1964)
Everyone runs in a large circle, accompanied by a strong rhythm. On every beat, all whoop or yell in unison. May also jump or raise arms to mark time.
16. Ken Friedman, Zen Vaudeville (1966)
The sound of one shoe tapping.
17. Dick Higgins, Danger Music Number Seventeen (1962)
Scream! Scream! Scream! Scream! Scream! Scream!
18. Dick Higgins, Danger Music Number Twelve (1962)
Write a thousand symphonies.
19. Davi Det Hompson, There’s Music in My Shoes (1972)
Place a wet bar of soap in the center of a room. Listen for someone to fall.
20. Bengt af Klintberg, Calls, Canto 5 (1966)
Make a telephone call […] talking with your lower lip under the water surface and your upper lip over it. The piece requires a long telephone cord.
21. Bengt af Klintberg, Calls, Canto 6 (1966)
Open an empty envelope with both hands and talk loudly into it. Then close the envelope quickly and post it to anyone whom it may concern.
22. Milan Knížák, Lying Ceremony (1968)
Blindfolded people lie on the ground for a long time.
23. Alison Knowles, Proposition (1962)
Make a salad.
24. Alison Knowles, Piece for Any Number of Vocalists (1962)
Each thinks beforehand of a song, and, on a signal from the conductor, sings it through.
25. Takehisa Kosugi, Organic Music (1963)
Orchestra breathes in unison and slowly following the rhythm indicated by conductor. Breathing is done through long tubes or wind instruments without mouthpieces.
26. Bob Lens, Bottle of water
Fill glass with water from bottle. Return water from glass back into bottle. Fill glass and repeat procedure as above. Many times till all water is spilled.
27. George Maciunas, Solo for Conductor (1965)
Conductor enters and takes a deep bow toward the audience. He remains bowed while he performs various acts with his hands at floor level, such as: tie shoelaces, straighten out socks, wipe shoes with cloth, pick up little specks from floor,etc. Performance ends when conductor straightens up and exits.
28. Richard Maxfield, Mechanical Fluxconcert
Microphones are placed in the street, outside windows or hidden among audience and sounds are amplified to the audience via public address system.
29. Larry Miller, Mud Drop (1969)
A large heap of mud is dropped from a height onto an egg placed on the ground.
30. Larry Miller, 100 Yard Metronome Run (1970)
Runners may only take a step when they hear a designated sound such as an amplified metronome or music. Only one foot may touch the ground at any time.
31. Larry Miller, 220 Yard Balloon Dash (1970)
All runners have as many inflated balloons as possible tied to their bodies. Once the balloons are in place, they run a normal 220-yard race.
32. Yoko Ono, Lighting Piece (1955)
Light a match and watch it till it goes out.
33. Nam June Paik, Prelude
Audience seats are tied up to backs before performance.
34. Willem de Ridder, Dressing (1963)
Two performers of clearly different length or width enter the stage area. One by one they take off their top clothing, hand the pieces to each other and put them on again. So they exchange clothing and leave the stage again.
35. Tomas Schmit, Sanitas No.35
Blank sheets are handed to the audience without any explanations. 5 minutes waiting.
36. Mieko Shiomi, Shadow Piece (1963)
Make Shadows — still or moving — of your body or something on the road, wall, floor or anything else. Catch the shadows by some means.
37. Mieko Shiomi, Event for the Late Afternoon (1963)
Suspend a violin with a long rope from the roof of a building ‘till it nearly reaches the ground.
38. Mieko Shiomi, Air Event (1964)
Inflate a small rubber balloon in one deep breath and sign your name on the surface of the balloon. (this is your lung) You can buy the lungs of other performers at an auction.
39. Ben Vautier, Nothing (1962)
Performers do nothing.
40. Ben Vautier, Run (1963)
A performer runs about, around and through the audience until completely exhausted.
41. Ben Vautier, I Will be Back in Ten Minutes (1963)
Performer positions a poster on the stage announcing, ‘I will be back in 10 minutes!’ and goes across the street to have a cup of coffee.
42. Robert Watts, Trace (1964)
Place a card on a horizontal surface. Place a straw in the center of the card. Light one end of the straw with a match. When the flame is extinguished, hang the card on the wall.
43. Robert Watts, Event:10 (1962)
A performer stands on a dark stage with his back to the audience. He strikes 10 matches at uniform intervals. Another performer rings a bell 10 times at the same (or different) intervals.
44. Robert Watts, Event:13 (1962)
From backstage, at stage left, release 13 […] balloons through a slit in the curtain. From backstage at stage right, drop 13 eggs through a slit in the curtain.
45. Emmett Williams, Ten Arrangements for Five Performers (1962)
The conductor rings a bell, performers move about freely. The conductor rings the bell again, the performers freeze, and say a single word. This procedure is repeated nine times.
46. Emmett Williams, In Unison (1962)
Two or more performers onstage, each with a musical instrument. Lights out. Performers produce a sound on their instruments. The piece continues until the performers produce their sounds in unison.
47. Emmett Williams, Song of Uncertain Length (1960)
Performer balances bottle on own head and walks about singing or speaking until bottle falls.