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John Cage Research Paper

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John Cage, an American composer and philosopher, was deeply interested in aleatory, or chance, music, in which musicians used non-traditional and random approaches in order to determine several factors of their pieces. This particular style of creating compositions is a sharp contrast to the methodic and precise style of Classical composers. Throughout his life and career, Cage adopted the use of intended sounds to create tension in pieces of work. One of his most famous conceptual composition that uses this specific idea is 4'33" whose purpose is to make people genuinely listen. In my opinion, I strongly agree with Cage's belief that the music around us is just as valid as the production of musical notes by a performer because there is no …show more content…

For instance, Cage has claimed in a interview that he loves sounds just how they are and they do not to be anymore than they already (John Cage about Silence). In more simpler terms, he is asserting the fact that he believes planned out music with specific notes and certain melodies is no better than the sounds heard through daily life. Moreover, the significance one might find in 4'33" is the utter simplicity and beauty that can be found within the piece because of it's compelling and influential nature (Pritchett, 10). Another concept that made Cage's music one of the most misunderstood pieces ever written is how people now a days are often used to music being in an exact way. Music in today's society is at a certain pace of tempo, contain repetitive chants, and a specific rhythmic pattern. Yet, for many, Cage's 4'33" was a kind of artistic prayer in a serene, calm environment that opened the ears and allowed one to hear the world anew. Likewise, Cage used an act of framing, of enclosing environmental and unintended sounds in a moment of attention in order to open the mind to the fact that all sounds are music (Kyle Gann, 2). The essential reason behind this new approach to listening is to establish a new understanding of music itself by blurring the traditional boundaries between art and life. Overall, the context within Cage's composition is different to every person since each individual finds a distinct interpretation because sounds can not be replicated to be sounded the same in every

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