Cage, John. (1912–1992)
Signed Letter with Mushroom Catchup Recipe
An interesting typed letter signed from the innovative and influential American composer, sharing a recipe for mushroom catchup for inclusion in a collection of the favorite recipes of notable people. Stony Point, New York, September 9, 1961. 1 p. Cage, who was an accomplished amateur mycologist, gives a recipe from the 1900 book One Thousand American Fungi for a fermented mushroom catchup containing "toadstools," ginger, mace, bay, cayenne, allspice, pepper, and brandy, which "should be allowed to stand undisturbed for at least a year before using," and goes on to specify which species of mushroom can be used. Folding creases; otherwise very fine. 8.5 x 11 inches (21.5 x 28 cm). Together with a copy of a letter soliciting recipes from Jacqueline Stephens of Milwaukee (this one addressed to John H. Griffin).Cage once said that if he were to live his life over again, he would be a botanist rather than an artist. He was in fact an amateur mycologist of some distinction, helping to found the New York Mycological Society, winning an Italian TV quiz on mushrooms in the 1950s, and co-writing (with Lois Long and Alexander Smith) "The Mushroom Book." Lois Long, a textile designer, assisted Cage in teaching a course in Mushroom Identification at the New School for Social Research in 1959–60. Together, the two revived the defunct New York Mycological Society and co-authored Mushroom Book and Mud Book. (16152)
Classical Music TLS