'How exactly does silence constitute as music?'
When I first introduced this work to my colleagues, they all asked this same question. They were baffled, unable to see how such a piece could be considered a composer's work of art.
In 1952, John Cage composed a piece called '4'33"', which consisted of four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence. Seeking to push the conventions of music, John Cage focused on background and ambient sounds.
A recording of John Cage's 4'33"
Many critics, myself included, question the legitimacy of this composition, believing that it should not be categorised as 'music'. Personally, I define music as an art form in which composers dictate organised sounds and thus they are in full control of the sounds produced. In essence, there is some degree of consistency in each performance of the piece. Due to the volatility of John Cage's '4'33"' and the lack of dictated, musical notation, with each 'performance' being vastly, if not completely different due to the abundance of ambient sounds (e.g. whispers in the audience, differences in reverberation in certain auditoriums), it does not satisfy the conditions of being a musical piece. Although objectively perceived as nothing but silence by the majority of the audience, Cage (1966: 51) has argued in response that 'there is no such thing as silence' and has described these ambiance sounds which silence entails as 'accidental sounds'.
Beyond the controversy surrounding such a composition, it is undeniable that John Cage's ultimate goal in his work, '4'33"' was to highlight the sounds of the environment which are often overshadowed by the works of traditional composers. Although the audience is divided on whether such a piece should constitute as music, I believe it is an artistic statement by Cage against composer egotism and his attempt at pushing the boundaries of music. In the end, the definition of music, much like this piece, is subjective. It is up to the listener to determine what they perceive as music and what they perceive is sound.
Posted by Wing
Beyond the controversy surrounding such a composition, it is undeniable that John Cage's ultimate goal in his work, '4'33"' was to highlight the sounds of the environment which are often overshadowed by the works of traditional composers. Although the audience is divided on whether such a piece should constitute as music, I believe it is an artistic statement by Cage against composer egotism and his attempt at pushing the boundaries of music. In the end, the definition of music, much like this piece, is subjective. It is up to the listener to determine what they perceive as music and what they perceive is sound.
Posted by Wing
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