Notations

Last Wednesday I spent a chunk of the day working from my favorite place to work in the city: the Rose Main Reading Room at the New York Public Library’s Main Branch. I find the space the optimal place to work. It’s quiet, there are no distractions, and anytime you take a break and push back your chair, you get to stare at the gorgeous details around the room: the beautiful murals on the ceiling, the light fixtures and lamps, all the ornate details around the room. I love it there.

When I walked through the entrance the security guard who checked my bag recommended that I check out the “Treasures” exhibition on the first floor, so I did. It’s a fascinating collection with some great little gems scattered throughout. The highlights for me were the original teddy bear that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh, a huge original Audobon bird print, and these graphic notations from composer John Cage for his musical Aria.

I love that instead of using your typical notations of forte, piano, or pianissimo, he scribbled and added color to convey the action of the music. Call me crazy, but I look at these and I think I know what Cage is asking for.