Intellimation
Music History - John Cage
Avant Garde 20th Century Composer
I could not accept the academic idea that the purpose of music was communication, because I noticed that when I conscientiously wrote something sad, people and critics were often apt to laugh. I determined to give up composition unless I could find a better reason for doing it than communication. I found this answer from Gira Sarabhai, an Indian singer and tabla player: The purpose of music is to sober and quiet the mind, thus making it susceptible to divine influences. I also found in the writings of Ananda K. Coomaraswammy that the responsibility of the artist is to imitate nature in her manner of operation. -
John Cage, "An Autobiographical Statement", lecture delivered at Southern Methodist University on 17 April 1990, first published in the Southwest Review, 1991
"I certainly had no feeling for harmony, and Schoenberg thought that that would make it impossible for me to write music. He said, 'You'll come to a wall you won't be able to get through.' So I said, 'I'll beat my head against that wall.' " --John Cage
"If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all." --John Cage.
"As far as consistency of thought goes, I prefer inconsistency." --John Cage
[more John Cage quotes]
John Cage represents Avant Garde music of the 20th century. The prepared piano was his invention - a piano with various objects between the strings to perform a variety of percussion sounds. He was influenced by Zen, and non-intention, randomness, played a role in many of his musical compositions. He made a living through writing dance music.
Margaret Leng Tan - First woman Ph.D. to graduate from Juillard and an outstandingly praised virtuoso pianist, is closely associated with the music of John Cage and was his personal friend. [ see also: Margaret Leng Tang(2) ] [Emily Manzo sound clip]
Further John Cage Reading:
[Autobiographical Note] [Read more] [more2] [more3] [critical review] [ Harvard Biographical Dictionary] [imagesof a prepared piano] [reviews ] [site including discussion groups] [John Cage Sound Files]