Q

"In Don Buchla's ''Q,'' musical rules were most clearly defined. Each player corresponded to a numbered pool ball. Mr. Buchla, as the 8-ball, used a pool cue to keep score on strung counters, directing chattering instrumental collisions. Lights fl ashed in an electrified pool rack. Then, on film, a pool table labeled with staves became the''score'' for the instruments.

"I don't know if Mr. Buchla was playing ''straight'' or not, but his game suggested one danger in the lack of coherent musical traditions. His music sounded trivial and unimportant -caught helpless behind the 8-ball."

Edward Rothstein, "Music: Debuts in Review; Arch Ensemble Offers Four Coast Composers," New York Times, February 14, 1982.

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