Has anyone heard of that silent symphony thing, which is just 4 minutes 33 seconds of silence? Stupid.

It isn`t a symphony, nor is it 4 minutes 33 seconds of silence.
It is called 4`33, by the 20th century American composer John Cage, and the idea of the piece is that the sounds from the audience become the music.

But every expert has a different opinion on it, no-one can agree, some say what you said, some say the silence is potraying various moods in the different movements. Personally, I agree with the theory that its like the emporers new clothes. The composer is proving a point about snobby experts

Talking abt. John Cage...we once attended a workshop whereby we`re told to experiment with new dimensions in sound. We were instructed to tie boxes with nuts in em onto the grand piano strings. And when we play, the nuts jumped about in the boxes, providing the most wonderful kind of rhythmic/percussive effect u can ever imagine. And since yr talking abt the silent symphony...I`ve heard something quite wierd b4 also...Aeroplane/Helicopter sounds with some strange stirring `noises` produced by the orchestra. I can`t remember the composer`s name. I think he`s an American also.

What I want to know is it copy written and if it is how can he claim to have authored silence? Because I think is copy written.

John Cage`s entire purpose in writing this piece was to show how there was no such thing as silence. He thought of the piece when he went into an anechoic chamber (the quietest place on earth), expecting to hear nothing. He heard two sounds: his heart beating and his nervous system relaying. This led him to the realization that there was no such thing as silence. As many of you probably don`t know, John Cage is a Zen Buddhist. The Zen Buddhists say that music is continuous, it just stops when you don`t pay attention anymore. The piece was written in an attempt to prove that to the audience. I was at a performance of it, and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing. By 2:00, you did begin to notice every sound around you; the rustling of the leaves (we were outside), a plane flying by overhead, people moving in their chairs, even your own breathing became music. So in a sense, I could say that 4`33" has been the most enthralling performance I have ever been to, and I think that I gained a certain realization that I am better with. John Cage certainly made an impact on me.


~DD

Oh and Phillip, the composer you are referring to is Karlhein Stockhausen. He is not American. His piece calls for the performers to be flying above the audience on mini-helicopters. It has only been performed once, and he was inspired to write it because of his fascination with flying.

4`33" is copyrighted. A funny thing, John Cage sued a small-time composer for copyright infringement because a movement in his piece, entitled "Ode to John Cage" had 1 min of silence in it. John Cage won the claim.


~DD

Sorry, Phillip. I meant DW. DW the composer you are referring to is Karlhein Stockhausen.


~DD

Daniel, did you pay to go listen to your surrondings,
Just wondering becausi i can do that in a park. for free