I need your responses.

[tubafatness]

Well, need is a strong word. But I'd like them, if you don't mind.

I'm in the process of writing something for tuba quartet and narrator, and as part of the narration, I am piecing together the various responses to a question that I am asking all the different people I encounter. The question I am asking is:

What do you think of the life and music of John Cage?

Any answer that you have is perfectly fine. It is your opinion, so say what you want. If anyone would like to send me either an email/personal message, or respond on this board with their answer, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks, and any help is welcomed!

Sincerely,
Aaron Hynds

[THE TUBA]

What do you think of the life and music of John Cage?

Hmm... a little random, don't you think?

I like to think that Cage is seriously funny or maybe just funny in a serious way.

[windshieldbug]

aleatoric was elements Cage an music early some composer decided of labeled what left he where music to music be chance; he non-standard is also his instruments well pioneering for known use exploration electronic of musical and his of music. controversial, His generally composers especially works regarded were sometimes most but definition he is as one of the important era, of his raising about music. definition in his questions the of Buddhist Cage practice Cage music. beliefs through Zen into put John

[LoyalTubist]

John Cage had a very winsome personality. I met him (in passing) at a musical conference several years before he died. Speaking with him (frankly) one on one I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't take all of his music that seriously (he was very careful for anyone hearing him to hear that, lest their hearts be broken).

He was the L. Ron Hubbard of music. Hubbard created the perfect religion: Scientology. John Cage was the founder of the school that made music out of nothing. Only he had a better personality and more followers.

Personally, I like traditional music.

[dwaskew]

This is what he said, this is what John Cage said


(4' 33" of silence)

nicely said.......

[oldbandnerd]

I don't know who he is nor do I know any of his music . I'm not kidding .

[BVD Press]

This is what he said, this is what John Cage said


(4' 33" of silence)

I am fairly sure I can play or conduct this piece flawlessly every time I attempt it:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... arch_type=" target="_blank

I wonder if it would fly as a requirement for a Junior or Senior recital?

As for words to describe his music, 4'33'' of time that I will never have back again.

[Rick Denney]

Noise.

Rick "and more Noise" Denney

[TubaCoopa]

Sigh... Personally, I don't think it can be called music, but I guess it is *some* sort of an art form...

[Mark]

Please concentrate on the following for four minutes and thirty-three seconds:

Ditto. But without the box.

[The Jackson]

Some elitist jerks like me would go on rants and soapbox stepping-ons about how 4'33" is a campy piece of garbage that is just a quick gimmick for shock value and that it crosses the line of originality into StupidNet, but I don't think this is true. I think Cage really had something going with that piece, and I don't think it deserves the harsh ridicule of it's "forced creativity" nor do I think it deserves the "ZOMG ITZ SUPR INDIE OMG LUV B3ST INDA WURLD <###" reaction merely for its shock value.

[eupher61]

Cage's music gets people wondering. Thinking. Some react positively, some negatively.

But it's tough to not be affected by Cage's music.

In a way it's sorta like

[dfear]

I performed "Branches" with my college room mate (a percussionist) during our joint junior recital. We found the process for selecting the "instruments" and timings to be very intriguing and actually quite fun. I have also enjoyed watching a few performances of Cage's music (not including 4'33"), but including other performances of "Branches."

I think that listening to aleatoric and chance music such as Mr. Cage's can bring a listener closer to understanding the symphony of sounds that comprise our daily experiences. It can also prepare a student for the sounds of a beginning band or orchestra! This style of music will maintain a certain flavor for academia, but is not necessarily a type of music I take seriously all of the time. It sometimes helps to remind me to think outside of the box.

His music, as well as Schoenberg and Webern, also encouraged me to expand my ideas into a few aleatoric and chance compositions as well. They were even performed during an Ars Nova Guild show at NMSU. I would probably have to admit that I had had way to much beverage while creating the idea of these pieces, and the actual composing of them.

[tubafatness]

Thanks for the responses, everyone! And keep them coming!

One of the things that is interesting in this survey of mine is how extremely far-ranging the responses have been so far. The first one I received was, in part, "His music sucks." Another response was "As a man, John Cage has inspired me and still inspires me now." In many ways, I think this is exactly what Cage would've wanted.

Thanks, and keep going!
Aaron H.

[LoyalTubist]

I forgot where I got the definition I use of music, but I am sure it was around long before John Cage made nothing out of something:

music = The organization of sound and silence.

This is part of the school that believes that everything can be music. I go along with it, even though I still prefer traditional music.