The Composers' Cafeteria Official Home Page
The Composers' Cafeteria was (is?) a composer's cooperative
which existed (exists?) for some time in and around Berkeley,
California. The group came into existence as the the result
of a great many factors, desires, ideals, needs, etc., all
of which contributed to its greatness as well as to its inevitable
downfall. Among those ideals were the notions that performers and
composers ought to exchange roles for best results, and that
pretty much anyone can write music which would be less boring and
more meaningful than what is being played in universities and by
"new music ensembles." The Cafeteria succeeded in demonstrating that
both of these propositions are correct.
If only the Cafeteria had recognized certain corrolaries to these
obvious truths! The group's demise (?) might have been averted,
or at least delayed. Especially the corrolary
that states: Composers who
do not play an instrument with reasonable skill are parasites and
are killing music. And also: Composers whose aim is to have their
pieces performed in universities and by
"new music ensembles" are going to drive us all crazy
with their constant whining.
Less obvious was the hard-learned manifesto-item: No more deadbeat
ringers.
Cafeteria History
The history of the group in a nutshell: observe the changes to the
Cafeteria's motto over time:
"We of The Composers' Cafateria do believe that
every musical composition deserves one performance."
- Chris Maher, February, 1987
"Every piece deserves to be heard once."
- "Official" Cafeteria motto
"We of The Composers' Cafateria have no common tastes in music,
but we do share the proposition that each composition
deserves to be heard once. Okay,
and also that each proposition is true at least once. And
this is the `once!'"
- Dan Plonsey and Tom Statler, May, 1987
"Every piece deserves to be heard once - but not by us!
- anon., 1989
"`Every piece deserves to be performed once.'
Ha, ha, suckers!"
- James Jacobs, July 1989
Sigh...
For more information about The Composer's Cafeteria, send mail to:
Dan Plonsey,
or peruse the following links: