Cactus Concert is a tribute to John Cage and Detroit’s avant-garde scene, presented by the Detroit Bureau of Sound, with special guests Sophiyah E. and Dominant Hand. The performance features Cage’s “Child of Tree”, which premiered in Detroit in 1975.
In this innovative piece, an amplified cactus becomes the instrument, with contact microphones capturing the subtle vibrations produced by the plant and the performer. The result is a unique soundscape filled with rustling, creaking, and delicate spring-like noises, blurring the lines between natural sounds and music.
True to Cage’s philosophy of indeterminacy, “Child of Tree” allows chance to shape the performance, creating a constantly evolving experience for the audience.