John Cage
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(1912 – 1992)
John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was an American composer, philosopher, poet, music theorist, artist, printmaker, and amateur mycologist and mushroom collector. A pioneer of chance music, electronic music and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde. Critics have lauded him as one of the most influential American composers of the 20th century. He was also instrumental in the development of modern dance, mostly through his association with choreographer Merce Cunningham, who was also Cage’s romantic partner for most of their lives.
Cage is perhaps best known for his 1952 composition 4′33″, the three movements of which are performed without a single note being played. The content of the composition is meant to be perceived as the sounds of the environment that the listeners hear while it is performed, rather than merely as four minutes and thirty three seconds of silence, and the piece became one of the most controversial compositions of the twentieth century. Another famous creation of Cage’s is the prepared piano (a piano with its sound altered by placing various objects in the strings), for which he wrote numerous dance-related works and a few concert pieces, the best known of which is Sonatas and Interludes (1946–48).
His teachers included Henry Cowell (1933) and Arnold Schoenberg (1933–35), both known for their radical innovations in music and coincidentally their shared love of mushrooms, but Cage’s major influences lay in various Eastern cultures. Through his studies of Indian philosophy and Zen Buddhism in the late 1940s, Cage came to the idea of chance-controlled music, which he started composing in 1951.
Cage is perhaps best known for his 1952 composition 4′33″, the three movements of which are performed without a single note being played. The content of the composition is meant to be perceived as the sounds of the environment that the listeners hear while it is performed, rather than merely as four minutes and thirty three seconds of silence, and the piece became one of the most controversial compositions of the twentieth century. Another famous creation of Cage’s is the prepared piano (a piano with its sound altered by placing various objects in the strings), for which he wrote numerous dance-related works and a few concert pieces, the best known of which is Sonatas and Interludes (1946–48).
His teachers included Henry Cowell (1933) and Arnold Schoenberg (1933–35), both known for their radical innovations in music and coincidentally their shared love of mushrooms, but Cage’s major influences lay in various Eastern cultures. Through his studies of Indian philosophy and Zen Buddhism in the late 1940s, Cage came to the idea of chance-controlled music, which he started composing in 1951.
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Sonatas & Interludes for Prepared Piano
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In a Landscape
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Sonatas And Interludes For Prepared Piano
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Four Walls
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Shoutbox
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LimpingLime wrote:
What?
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poeq wrote:
You can interpret it however you want, but you risk sounding stupid if you interpret it in a stupid manner.
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Antimusician wrote:
Well, anyone can interpret any song on his own way. Cage has his own philosophy about this "composition". I like his quote: "Until I die there will be sounds. And they will continue following my death. One need not fear about the future of music." But I disagree with him.
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poeq wrote:
no 4'33" is supposed to be about the bliss that arrives from pure silence. i also personally think that it's the peak of cage's attempt to take humanity and nature out of music. the essence of nothing is in complete contrast to human experience which revolves around sensation, and 4'33" is nothing but the lack of sensation. i mean it's interesting, but people over emphasize it relative to other avant garde compositions.
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bloodmaw wrote:
what a shitty and ignorant thing to say
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Haxlol wrote:
no, it isn't.
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Antimusician wrote:
4'33'' is nice proof that we are living in world contaminated with noise and we really have to pay, not only for music, but for silence too.
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TomBarlow wrote:
V that was a 4'33' joke.
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TomBarlow wrote:
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poeq wrote:
oh and start with in a landscape and then move to his prepared piano.
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poeq wrote:
now i'm tired of hearing about how tired everyone is about hearing 4'33 jokes.
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Edward_Vedder wrote:
where the hell do i start with this guy?
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Inci90 wrote:
tired 4'33 reference [∞]
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experimental101 wrote:
Hello, I've made an analysis over experimental last.fm groups, and 10 artists (from >1000) are currently characteristic: John Cage (RIP) is this week in top10, see the others here: http://www.last.fm/user/experimental101/journal
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iamholgerczukay wrote:
*insert corny 4'33 joke here.
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HumbleGold wrote:
i bet john cage was the only person to eat more shrooms than terrance mckenna
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sunheadbowed wrote:
V bad jokes.
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alvinissimo wrote:
4'33" is on the top tracks but you can't see it
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LiquidPhill wrote:
yawn
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PsychoLold wrote:
Why is 4'33'' not among the top 15? It's one of his most famous pieces.
Videos
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Play
Cage Against The Machine - BUY…
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Play
Water Walk
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Play
"4'33"
26 shouts
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Play
Experiences No. 1 & 2
Events
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Feb
15
John Cage Centenary Festival
REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater), Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles, United States
3 going
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Feb
10
2012 Avant Music Festival
Wild Project, New York, NY, New York, United States
9 going
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Mar
5
RED CHAIR CONCERT II
Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain
23 going
4 shouts
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