JOHN CAGE / ATLAS ECLIPTICALIS

John Cage
In summary, Cage used the star atlas as a tool for removing control, inviting randomness, and connecting music to natural systems—all core principles of his avant-garde and philosophical approach to art.

Atlas Eclipticalis:
​John Cage’s Atlas Eclipticalis (1961–62) is a large-scale orchestral work inspired by star charts from Antonín Bečvář’s Atlas Eclipticalis (1958). Cage used the constellations’ positions to determine pitches and structures, aligning his compositional process with chance operations and the natural order of the cosmos. Scored for up to 86 instruments, the work allows performers significant freedom: parts may overlap, enter, or fade independently, creating a dense, shimmering texture of sound. Its indeterminacy challenged traditional orchestral hierarchies and provoked controversy at its premiere. Today, Atlas Eclipticalis is seen as a landmark of Cage’s exploration of chance, space, and cosmic scale in music.