P+ VI — Water Yam
P+VI
WATER YAM
2026P+ VI — Water Yam, 2026, is the sixth deck of P+ (Projects Prospects Possibilities +). Its 69 cards reproduce the event scores in George Brecht’s Water Yam, published by Fluxus in 1963 and designed and produced by George Maciunas. The cards follow the catalogue order of the MoMA box; the loose cards have no fixed reading or performance sequence.
Dates printed on the cards are distinguished from the 1963 box edition. Repeated titles identify separate cards. Transcriptions preserve printed wording, blank entries and spelling; line wrapping is normalized in prose.
George Brecht, Card-Piece for Voice, 1959. CARD-PIECE FOR VOICE 1. There are from 1 to 54 performers. Performers are seated side by side, except for the "chairman", a performer who sits facing the others. They rehearse before the performance to develop common vocables of the four types described below. 2. The chairman holds a deck of ordinary playing cards (four complete suits plus Joker and Extra Joker). He tosses each card into the air so that it is free to fall face up or face down, then re-forms the deck and shuffles it, keeping each card in its face-up or face-down direction. 3. He then deals one card at a time to each performer in turn, including himself, until all cards have been dealt. 4. There is a second stack of "phoneme cards", blank cards on each of which a single phoneme from one or more languages familiar to all performers has been written. These are shuffled and dealt, face up, one at a time, to each performer in turn, who keeps them in a stack separate from the playing cards. 5. At a nod from the chairman, each performer takes a playing card from the top of his sub-deck, performs a sound or not, according to the system of cues given below, and discards the card. Unless there is a signal from the chairman to repeat, or stop, the performance, each performer stops at the end of his sub-deck.
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Exhibit Seven (Clock), Summer, 1961. EXHIBIT SEVEN (CLOCK) • house number Summer, 1961
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Incidental Music, Summer, 1961. INCIDENTAL MUSIC Five Piano Pieces, any number playable successively or simultaneously, in any order and combination, with one another and with other pieces. 1. The piano seat is tilted on its base and brought to rest against a part of the piano. 2. Wooden blocks. A single block is placed inside the piano. A block is placed upon this block, then a third upon the second, and so forth, singly, until at least one block falls from the column. 3. Photographing the piano situation. 4. Three dried peas or beans are dropped, one after another, onto the keyboard. 5. The piano seat is suitable arranged, and the performer seats himself. Summer, 1961. G. Brecht
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Comb Music (Comb Event), 1959-62. COMB MUSIC (COMB EVENT) For single or multiple performance. A comb is held by its spine in one hand, either free or resting on an object. The thumb or a finger of the other hand is held with its tip against an end prong of the comb, with the edge of the nail overlapping the end of the prong. The finger is now slowly and uniformly moved so that the prong is inevitably released, and the nail engages the next prong. This action is repeated until each prong has been used. Second version: Sounding comb-prong. Third version: Comb-prong. Fourth version: Comb. Fourth version: Prong. G. Brecht (1959-62)
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Concert for Orchestra, 1962. CONCERT FOR ORCHESTRA ( exchanging ) Brecht, 1962
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Concerto for Clarinet, 1962. CONCERTO FOR CLARINET • nearby G. Brecht 1962
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Flute Solo, 1962. FLUTE SOLO • disassembling • assembling G. Brecht 1962
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Air Conditioning. AIR CONDITIONING ( move through the place )
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Bed Event. BED EVENT Discover or arrange: a white bed a black item on or near it
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Candle-Piece for Radios. CANDLE-PIECE FOR RADIOS 1. There are about one and one-half times as many radios as performers. The radios are placed about the room and turned on at lowest volume. A stack of instruction cards from a shuffled master-deck is dealt, face-up, at each radio. 2. The room lights are turned out. (Birthday) Candles are lighted and given to the performers, each of whom places one candle by each of the instruction card stacks. After doing this, each performer finds himself at a radio. He performs the instructions given on the top card, places the card at the bottom of the deck, and proceeds to another, unoccupied, radio. 3. Each performer, then, finds himself performing a card instruction and going to another radio. He does this until he finds either that a card is unreadable, or that the candle at a radio is out completely. In either event, he turns off that radio, and, when no more radios are available, returns to his seat.
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Chair Event — 1/2 (Christmas-tree ball). CHAIR EVENT on a white chair a Christmas-tree ball flag can opener black and spectral colors
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Chair Event — 2/2 (grater and tape measure). CHAIR EVENT on a white chair a grater tape measure alphabet flag black and spectral colors
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Direction. DIRECTION Arrange to observe a sign indicating direction of travel. • travel in the indicated direction • travel in another direction
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Dresser. DRESSER • mirror above drawers below
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Egg. EGG • at least one egg
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Event. EVENT pulse start pulse stop
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Five Events. FIVE EVENTS • eating with • between two breaths • sleep • wet hand • several words
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Instruction. INSTRUCTION • Turn on a radio. At the first sound, turn it off.
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Intermission. INTERMISSION 1. hair growing arrangement (haircut) 2.
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Keyhole. KEYHOLE through either side
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Ladder. LADDER • Paint a single straight ladder white Paint the bottom rung black. Distribute spectral colors on the rungs between
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Mallard Milk. Text: Dick Higgins. MALLARD MILK Text: Dick Higgins Counting. Summer. Winter. Summer. Milkmaids counting. Spring fall. Spring winter summer spring.
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Mirror. MIRROR • reflecting • reflecting
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, No Smoking Event. NO SMOKING EVENT Arrange to observe a NO SMOKING sign. • smoking • no smoking
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Organ Piece, 1962. ORGAN PIECE • organ G. Brecht 1962
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Position. POSITION • an insect nearby
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Realization. REALIZATION • emotion music
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Sink — 1/2 (toothbrushes and black soap). SINK • on a white sink toothbrushes black soap
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Sink — 2/2 (on ( or near ) a white sink). SINK • on ( or near ) a white sink
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Six Doors. SIX DOORS • EXIT • ENTRANCE • EXIT ENTRANCE •
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Six Exhibits, Summer, 1961. SIX EXHIBITS • ceiling • first wall • second wall • third wall • fourth wall • floor Summer, 1961
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Solo for Violin, Viola, Cello, or Contrabass, 1962. SOLO FOR VIOLIN VIOLA CELLO OR CONTRABASS • polishing George Brecht 1962
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Solo for Wind Instrument, 1962. SOLO FOR WIND INSTRUMENT ( putting it down ) G. Brecht 1962
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Spanish Card Piece for Objects, Winter, 1959/60. SPANISH CARD PIECE FOR OBJECTS From one to twenty-four performers are arranged within view of each other. Each has before him a stopwatch and a set of objects of four types, corresponding to the four suits of Spanish cards: swords, clubs, cups, and coins. One performer, as dealer, shuffles a deck of Spanish cards (which are numbered 1-12 in each suit), and deals them in pairs to all performers, each performer arranging his pairs, face up, in front of him. At a sign from the dealer, each performer starts his stopwatch, and, interpreting the rank of the first card in each pair as the number of sound to be made, and the rank of the second card in each pair as the number of consecutive five-second intervals within which that number of sounds is to be freely arranged, acts with an object corresponding to the suit of the first card in each pair upon an object corresponding to the suit of the second card in that pair. When every performer has used all his pairs of cards, the piece ends. G. Brecht Winter, 1959/60
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Stool — 1/3 (striped cane and oranges). STOOL on a white stool a black-and-white-striped cane oranges in a paper bag
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Stool — 2/3 (a cane and a package or bag of). STOOL on a stool a cane and a package or bag of
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Stool — 3/3 (on ( or near ) a stool). STOOL on ( or near ) a stool
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, String Quartet, 1962. STRING QUARTET • shaking hands G. Brecht 1962
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Suitcase — 1/3 (black suitcase / white objects). SUITCASE • black suitcase • white objects
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Suitcase — 2/3 (from a suitcase). SUITCASE • from a suitcase.
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Suitcase — 3/3 (suitcase). SUITCASE • suitcase
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Table — 1/3 (table). TABLE • table
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Table — 2/3 (on a white table). TABLE • on a white table
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Table — 3/3 (glasses, a puzzle and smoking). TABLE • on a white table glasses, a puzzle and ( having to do with smoking )
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Tea Event, Summer, 1961. TEA EVENT preparing empty vessel Summer, 1961
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Three Aqueous Events, Summer, 1961. THREE AQUEOUS EVENTS • ice • water • steam Summer, 1961
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Three Arrangements. THREE ARRANGEMENTS • on the shelf • on a clothes tree • black object white chair
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Three Broom Events. THREE BROOM EVENTS • broom • sweeping • broom sweepings
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Three Chair Events, Spring, 1961. THREE CHAIR EVENTS • Sitting on a black chair Occurrence. • Yellow chair. ( Occurrence. ) • On (or near) a white chair. Occurrence. Spring, 1961 G. Brecht
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Three Dances, Summer, 1961. THREE DANCES 1. Saliva 2. Pause. Urination. Pause. 3. Perspiration. Summer, 1961 G. Brecht
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Three Gap Events, Spring, 1961. THREE GAP EVENTS • missing-letter sign • between two sounds • meeting again To Ray J. Spring, 1961 G. Brecht
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Three Lamp Events, Summer, 1961. THREE LAMP EVENTS • on. off. • lamp • off. on. "It is sure to be dark if you shut your eyes."(J. Ray) Summer, 1961
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, 3 Piano Pieces, 1962. 3 PIANO PIECES • standing • sitting • walking G. Brecht, 1962
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, 3 Table and Chair Events. 3 TABLE AND CHAIR EVENTS • newspaper • game plate knife • fork spoon glass
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Three Telephone Events, Spring, 1961. THREE TELEPHONE EVENTS • When the telephone rings, it is allowed to continue ringing, until it stops. • When the telephone rings, the receiver is lifted, then replaced. • When the telephone rings, it is answered. Performance note: Each event comprises all occurrences within its duration. Spring, 1961
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Three Window Events. THREE WINDOW EVENTS opening a closed window closing an open window
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Three Yellow Events, Spring, 1961. THREE YELLOW EVENTS I • yellow • yellow • yellow II • yellow • loud III • red to Rrose Spring, 1961 G. BrechtMoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Time-Table Event, Spring, 1961. TIME-TABLE EVENT to occur in a railway station A time-table is obtained. A tabled time indication is interpreted in minutes and seconds ( 7:16 equalling, for example, 7 minutes and 16 seconds). This determines the duration of the event. Spring, 1961 G. Brecht
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Time-Table Music, Summer, 1959. TIME-TABLE MUSIC For performance in a railway station. The performers enter a railway station and obtain time-tables. They stand or seat themselves so as to be visible to each other, and, when ready, start their stopwatches simultaneously. Each performer interprets the tabled time indications in terms of minutes and seconds (e.g. 7:16 = 7 minutes and 16 seconds). He selects one time by chance to determine the total duration of his performing. This done, he selects one row or column, and makes a sound at all points where tabled times within that row or column fall within the total duration of his performance. George Brecht Summer, 1959
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Two Approximations. TWO APPROXIMATIONS ( obituary )
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Two Clocks. TWO CLOCKS • clothes hooks • bird flight
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Two Definitions. TWO DEFINITIONS • 1. Something intended or supposed to represent or indicate another thing, fact, event, feeling, etc.; a sign. A portent. 2. A characteristic mark or indication; a symbol. 3. Something given or shown as a symbol or guarantee of authority or right; a sign of authenticity, power, good faith, etc. 4. A memorial by which the affection of another is to be kept in mind; a memento; souvenir. 5. A medium of exchange issued at a nominal or face value in excess of its commodity value. 6. Formerly, in some churches, a piece of metal given beforehand as a warrant or voucher to each person in the congregation who is permitted to partake of the Lord’s Supper. • ( a cup and saucer )
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Two Durations. TWO DURATIONS • red • green
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Two Elimination Events, Summer, 1961. TWO ELIMINATION EVENTS empty vessel empty vessel Summer, 1961
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Two Exercises, Fall, 1961. TWO EXERCISES Consider an object. Call what is not the object "other." EXERCISE: Add to the object, from the "other," another object, to form a new object and a new "other." Repeat until there is no more "other." EXERCISE: Take a part from the object and add it to the "other," to form a new object and a new "other." Repeat until there is no more object. Fall, 1961
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, 2 Umbrellas. 2 UMBRELLAS • umbrella • umbrella
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Two Vehicle Events, Summer, 1961. TWO VEHICLE EVENTS • start • stop Summer, 1961
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Wheel. WHEEL • Paint the hub white. Paint the felly black. Distribute spectral colors on the spokes.
MoMA recordGeorge Brecht, Word Event, Spring, 1961. WORD EVENT • EXIT G. Brecht Spring, 1961
MoMA record
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