The Great Learning. Divided into seven individual works or paragraphs, The Great Learning, written by Cornelius Cardew between 1968 and 1971, is based on the opening seven paragraphs of the Ta Hio, the first of the four books attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius. Following a translation by the poet Ezra Pound, the corresponding paragraphs are either spoken or sung and accompanied by, or alternated with, detailed musical interventions that are scored in various ways. These include standard notation, graphic notation, and verbal instructions, sometimes leading to free improvisation. The entire work lasts approximately seven hours, individual paragraphs varying from thirty minutes to two hours.

The paragraphe 5 is based on the principle of a process of interpretation in 3 phases : the dumb show, compositions, free and collective improvisation - intended to prepare exercices for the ultimage goal of the piece : a collective and free improvisation.