Tone is a composer, theorist, and key figure within Fluxus—a loose international group of artists, poets, and musicians brought together by a shared impulse to integrate art and life. Written for a string quartet, his score for Anagram for Strings bypasses the conventional language of Western musical notation, with its constellation of abstract dots and black and white circles. Each symbol corresponds to a length of glissando, or a glide from one musical pitch to another; performers can interact with the symbols to create their own improvisational score. One possible option is to “draw an oblique line from left to right and play where the oblique line intersects with the circle.” The work often produces dissonant, droning tones and upends the traditional roles of composer and performer, creating a hybrid of drawing, sound, and thought.

Gallery label from

Artist’s Choice: Grace Wales Bonner—Spirit Movers, November 18, 2023 – April 07, 2024

Medium Ink and typewriting on paper
Dimensions sheet: 8 1/4 x 11 5/8" (21 x 29.6 cm)
Credit The Gilbert and Lila Silverman Fluxus Collection Gift
Object number 2737.2008
Department Drawings and Prints

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