Why Is John Cage Four Minute Thirty-Three Seconds Of Silence

Silence is an important factor in life and can be encountered in different ways, silence can be seen as peace, harmony and can also be viewed as a negative effect such as depression, sadness or even as evil. Silence also gives time to reflect on life and society and when silence there is time to reflect on faith and religion, this would allow to decide on or question religion. When silence is demonstrated it implicates the importance of peace and the chance for revival.

“Silence is violence” is a common phrase used by people nowadays which references people who lack initiative when it comes to speaking out against oppression. The same phrase could be applied to the ideas within Shusaku Endo’s novel, Silence. Endo was clever to name his novel Silence, because the word is a very prominent symbol within the story. In fact, it plays a crucial role to the development of the main character. Although some readers may argue that the role of silence in the book is neutral, I claim that silence plays a negative role for the characters because it is what causes protagonist Rodrigues to renounce his faith. In the story, it represents the silence of God, which induces Rodrigues to question his religion through the torture of innocent Japanese Christians.

Of such ultimate, such holiness of silence and peace that all on earth and within extremest remembrance seems suspended upon it in perfection as upon reflected water: and I feel that if I can by utter quietness succeed in not disturbing this silence, in not so much as touching this plain of water, I can tell you anything within the realm of God. (104)

“And all with pearl and ruby glowing/ Was the fair palace door, Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing/And sparkling evermore, A troop of Echoes whose sweet duty/was but to sing.” This is an important passage that fully details that the palace is his mind and the “Troop of Echoes” whom sing are his thoughts, which came like a constant river. He then praises the “Voices of surpassing beauty” the great thoughts that always came to their creator’s aid.

In the variety of occasions we tend to listen in a different way and process the sounds that reach us in a different manner. Our main purpose can be to obtain information, engage in a conversation, or just enjoy the sounds we hear (Types of Listening). In the book ‘In Silence: Lectures and Writings’ John Cage argues that we hear mostly noise, which disturbs us when we ignore it and we find it fascinating if we listen to it. Also according to Cage when we make music we just organize the sound, combining different noises from the surroundings, manipulating their frequencies and creating rhythms. (Cage, J. 1961)

When you think of the word end you think of the end of a book or movie when the true definition is “a final part of something, esp. a period of time, an activity, or a story” or “

Silence is more important today than it has ever been due to the growing issue our society faces known as “the tyranny of noise”, a phrase coined by Benedictine

Milton Babbitt and John Cage were both composers who played pivotal roles in the post-World War II Avant Garde music scene and in the pioneering of electronic music. Both composers found their roots and were greatly influenced by German-Jewish composer Arnold Schoenberg, however they both adopted different viewpoints on the relationship between a composer and their audience . Babbitt believed that a composer or creator did not have an obligation to please his or her audience, and that his pieces were intended mostly for professionals capable of understanding the context and intention of his music. Cage on the other hand granted his audience more power and influence, believing that music was a platform on which audiences could utilize their creativity to adopt new ways of perceiving and being aware of the world around them. These stances, as well as the different techniques and methodologies of the composers pitted them on somewhat of a spectrum, with Babbitt and his systematic, modernist ideas that were largely based in the music schools of academic institutions on one side and Cage, with his uncontrollable, radical combinations of Avant Garde sounds on the other side. These ideas on audience construction and relations were also visible in rock music of the 1960’s, particularly in compositions of artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan.

The speaker glorifies what most take for granted and shows how significant certain objects can be within their own relationship. “ The loud voice is famous to silence,/ which knew it would inherit the earth/ before anybody said so” (2-4). The speaker is able to describe the importance of the inevitability of sound in any silence. To the silence, the sound that is going to be generated within it, both signifies the silences’ end as well as its necessity. For there cannot be a clarity of the sound without first the crushing nothingness of silence. The duality of the two is a perfect example of what the speaker was trying to convey within the opening stanzas of the poem, sound and silence are vague generalities that only matter to each other in their own distinct relationship. Outside of their relationship, sound is not just noise being generated; the message it carries is what is important. However, within the confines of their relationship the fact that the noise is simply sound where there was nothing before is what makes the “loud voice” famous to the

As Alex Ross describes, “Cage love[s] noise” (366). This should be why he decided to alter his piano in a “conceptually violent” and unusual way for Sonatas and Interludes. Though, Cage’s aim was not pure violence, as we are pleased by the “soft sounds” instead of being “battered by some unholy racket” (Ross, 366). I

What does silence mean? In Night, a book wrote by Elie W, answer is shown. Night explains what silence is. Silence is the absence of, therefore silence is the path of death.

Is silence really an important factor in ife? Silence is described as complete absence of sound, however is there more to it? In The Chosen the theme is taken on with great significance. In the book “The Chosen” by Chaim Potok, silence isn’t ordinary, for it can teach various lessons, and can be looked at in a good way.

Spending spiritual time in silence can be difficult for many individuals because it gives them time to think and be present in the moment. Being silent also requires solitude

While well-crafted sound design and sound effects are so very necessary in the creation of a film, music touches the emotion, the psyche, and the things you cannot see. Sound design and effects don’t do this nearly as efficiently and naturally. Without music it would be much more difficult to follow the emotional ups and downs of a film. (Freer)

This can be overwhelming to the listener. Knowing when and how much to utilize silence is part of listening, one of the key skills of any musician. “Just because you can’t hear it doesn’t mean it’s not music”