4 minutes 33 seconds....of silence

[samiraalthores]

John Gage

Silence. Not silence.

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Although commonly perceived as "four minutes thirty-three seconds of silence", the piece actually consists of the sounds of the environment that the listeners hear while it is performed.

In 1951, Cage visited the anechoic chamber at Harvard University. An anechoic chamber is a room designed in such a way that

Comments

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[traceroo]

At a certain point, doesn't this seem a little bit ridiculous?

Trace

Expectation.

[samiraalthores]

You're doing it right. :)

[winterlion]

It's rather restful to listen.

I suspect it's a rather rigorous exercise for the conductor and the orchestra - heavy on self-discipline.
Is it not a meditation?

[samiraalthores]

You and I share a fondness fo silent practice. It is amazing what your can hear - what you are made aware of when you "silence" the distractions.