The Decibel Complete John Cage Variations ScorePlayer

The Decibel Complete John Cage Variations ScorePlayer Application (App) (abbreviated to ‘The Decibel John Cage Variations’) is an iPad App that provides automated score generation for the John Cage Variations I, II, III, IV and VI. It also includes a star map reader to use in Variations V and the hard to find text scores for VII and VIII. The app performs two tasks;

1. Computationally arrive at what were originally manual measurement and allocation tasks – resulting in faster and more accurate results.
2. Present these measurements as notation that can be easily read and understood by musicians.

The Decibel John Cage Variations App guides performers through a realisation of the complete John Cage Variations. It generates a series of animated and graphic notation scores in real time that allow the works to be easily and accurately interpreted while staying true to the aleatoric nature of the originals. The App can be networked between multiple iPads for use by an ensemble.

Users can play piece by piece or as an entire concert featuring all 7 Variations. The App was designed by musicians for musicians.It is best used in conjunction with Cage’s scores for III, IV and VI, and is released in conjunction with the John Cage Trust and Peter’s Edition.

The construction of the app is expanded upon in the book/CD ‘Actions: Remarks: John Cage’s Variations and the expansion of the score, sonic materials, space and the environment’

In 2025, the score app was used to create parts for performance of  Variations I by the London Sinfionetta.