The article “Searching for Silence” by Alex Ross dives deep into the 4-minute and 33-second conceptual work by John Cage and its lasting effects. This number coined the “silent piece”, was a work by John Cage in which he didn’t play any music/make a sound the whole time he was on stage.
What I find interesting is how 4:33 paved the path for new ways of listening to music. According to Kyle Gann, Cage's work prompted composers and even listeners to pay attention to previously rejected non-musical noises. This transition paved the way for trends such as minimalism and ambient music. In that way, Cage did more than just make a statement about music, he altered people's perception of sound.
This was furthered by the statement that even now kids who are manipulating music on a laptop are in his debt. This is something I found super interesting because music has been a big passion of mine. I am friends with a couple of DJS here at Colorado Boulder. I know that they take samples from other songs and make them into their own. This prompted me to think if they even know who John Cage is and how his legacy has allowed them to do what they do today.
Lastly, I believe that it's also remarkable how Cage balanced poverty, like receiving aid from the musician's emergency fund, and becoming a rising celebrity. Whether it was him growing mushrooms, going on game shows, or his unorthodox music they all demonstrated him as a person and his personality. This is one of the biggest things that stood out to me. It always seemed like Cage was being himself in a time when doing things differently like his music and even being gay were something that was ridiculed. His legacy, as mentioned, is more than just silence; it is about continually questioning the bounds of art and existence.
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