The score of “Stones” consists of just a few lines of text:
Make sounds with stones, draw sounds out of stones, using a number of sizes and kinds (and colours); for the most part discretely; sometimes in rapid sequences. For the most part striking stones wfth stones, but also stones on other surfaces (inside the open head of a drum, for instance) or other than struck (bowed, for instance, or amplified). Do not break anything. Christian Wolff, STONES, (from: Prose ColIection, 1968-74)
While these instructions contain an abundance of possibilities, they also exclude many things. The score describes a condition under which things may happen, not a process in which things develop.
Seven composers participated in the present realization by the Wandelweiser Komponisten Ensemble: Antoine Beuger, Jürg Frey, Chico Mello, Michael Pisaro, Burkhard Schlothauer, Kunsu Shim und Thomas Stiegler.
For this performance, each prepared, independently of the others, between 10 and 20 events.The solutions, though compatible with the score, were unique. Michael Pisaro, for example, made drawings on stones, producing very gentle sounds. Burkhard Schlothauer sometimes drew a large stone across the floor. Jürg Frey decided, that a single sound might well last long time. Thus, 27 minutes of quietly rubbing two very uneven limestones, is considered as one event. Thomas Stiegler used a violin and violin bow as the surface upon which all of his events took place. Kunsu Shim began performing his nearly inaudible, subtle sounds only after about 55 minutes had elapsed.
While playing this CD you may forget, after a while, that it is playing. All of a sudden you might hear a little stone, sometime, somewhere. After an initial ,,What is that?”, you’ll suddenly realize: ,,Oh yes, it’s the CD!”.