The Music Of John Cage - 1172 Words

John Cage lived a very interesting, non-traditional life that allowed him to form his outside of the box philosophy on music that questions the very definition of music. After exploring many different careers in the art world, he decided to compose music and through a winding, tumultuous road, he rose to the top of the classical music world. His life greatly influenced his music. His study of Buddhism and working with the choreographies of Merce Cunningham allowed Cage to discover the other side of music, silence. Cage and his philosophies not only changed music for the better but also changed the path that all types of art for the good; without Cage’s philosophy on silence, musicians and composers would be doing their jobs differently.†¦show more content†¦Cage says that Schoenberg has had the biggest influence on his work. With Cage being very young, he had trouble paying for the lessons from Schoenberg, so Schoenberg cut a deal with Cage. He would tutor him for fre e as long as Cage promised to devote his life to music. This is why even forty years later, Cage was still drafting compositions, he was so grateful for Schoenberg’s generosity that he did not want to break the promise. After studying under Schoenberg for 2 years, Cage met Xenia Kashevaroff and married her. She was a dancer and they moved to Hollywood where Cage choreographed music for his wife’s dance routines. During this time, Cage began using irregular instruments. After teaching at UCLA and other colleges, Cage left to go to Seattle, Washington, and become a composer. In the 1940s, Cage and Xenia moved to New York and stayed with good friends, but after a falling out, Cage was left homeless without any money, even after he just had his most successful concert yet. After the rough patch in the 40s, Cage’s life started to come together after a few of Cage’s compositions became very successful in the 1950s. In 1952, Cage composed what is perceived as his most famous work 4’33†, a composition that lasts four minutes and thirty-three seconds where the musicians do not play their instruments, but the sound comes from the audience. For example, if an audienceShow MoreRelatedJohn Cage - Music Of Silence992 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Cage – Music in Silence When the word music is heard, generally the first thing that comes to mind is how one would be able to relate to the piece. John Cage, a contemporary composer, expanded the normality of music by sounds with no meaning or emotional connection and silence. The propinquity between mind and music is difficult to sever, and to have music without an emotional connection is unfathomable. John Milton Cage Jr. is an American contemporary composer born September 05, 1912 inRead MoreJohn Cage And Modern Music1199 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Milton Cage Jr, is arguably one of the most controversial and influential composers of the 20th century. His works have pushed the boundaries on what it means to make music, and they have forever changed the way we think about music in general, and what it can possibly be. Cage was one of the composers who decided to challenge the standards of music in his lifetime, and he is one of the pioneers of avant-garde music. He started his music career during the peak of Abstract Expressionism. He hasRead More John Cage and Revolutionary Music Essay1127 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Cage and Revolutionary Music An Avant-garde is someone who is ahead of his time. He is a person who is willing to cross new boundaries and to try new things. The meaning of an Avant-garde is a group or an individual who is active in the invention and application of new techniques in a given field. Who else could this definition fit better than John Cage himself? He himself believed that he was someone who wanted to invent new music. ?Cage considered himself a musical inventor? (Page 83Read MoreJohn Cage s Theory Of Silence And Chance Operations1451 Words   |  6 Pagesparticular, John Cage, challenged the idea of music, sound, and art. Because of a distinct style and the utilization of innovative mechanisms, Cage proved to be one of the world’s most original composers. He took music into a new direction creating sounds and works that have never been performed before. Through his philosophy of silence and chance operations, John Cage distinguished the difference between sound and music; sounds possess th e ability to stand independently while the creation of music dependsRead MoreThe Sound of Silence Discussion Essays1237 Words   |  5 Pages but for John Cage this could not be farther from the truth. Most people would agree with the dictionary definition that no noise is silence but Cage believed that silence is sound. Cage was not only a great composer but is known for his odd perspective and philosophy on silence and sound. His unique outlook differs from many composers, he believed to let â€Å"sounds be themselves† and to not manipulate them (â€Å"John Cage- Music, Sound and Silence). As stated in the YouTube video of John Cage about silenceRead MoreJohn Cage Is The Epitome Of A Cutting Edge Composer1221 Words   |  5 PagesJohn cage is the epitome of a cutting edge composer. This is due to the fact that cage has achieved an appreciation for music which is unmatched by any other composer. Cage enjoys sounds because of their dynamics and their lengths, something oth er composers usually overlook. This gives him the advantage to compose music in a unique manner; he can make music that is unmatched by others. This is what undoubtedly makes him one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. One significantRead MoreAnalysis Of John Cage s Song Books 1567 Words   |  7 PagesLuiza Arefyeva Music History - Icons October 12, 2015 Prospectus John Cage - â€Å"Song Books† John Cage was born in 1912 in Los Angeles. His father was an inventor, and his mother worked as a journalist for the LA Times. Cage was first introduced to the piano music of the 19th century by his aunt; he began taking piano lessons in fourth grade. By the time he graduated from high school, he was convinced that he wanted to be a writer, and in 1928 Cage became a theology major in college. However, twoRead MoreJohn Milton Cage Jr. Essay737 Words   |  3 PagesJohn Milton Cage Jr. John Cage became famous for his unorthodox theories and very experimental compositions. He was an American composer born in Los Angeles on September 5, 1912. Neither of his parents went to college, and John himself dropped out after a mere two years in college. His father earned a living being an inventor. Cage credits his father, being an inventor, as very influential to the way in which he wrote music. John also considered himself as an innovator and discoverer in theRead MoreAnalysis Of Richard Taruskin No Ear For Music1488 Words   |  6 Pagesmany American musicologists and historians whose interest is in the theory of music performance. The author of many literary works such as No Ear for Music: The Scary Purity of John Cage is mainly interested in Russian folk literature where he analyzes the historical trends behind every story. The American author is also well-renowned for his famous articles written in The New York Times, for instance, ‘The Danger of Music and o ther Anti-Utopian Essays’ and others with a strong relation to social,Read MoreModern Composers : John Cage1251 Words   |  6 PagesModern Composers: John Cage Music is a very peculiar term. Everyone knows what it is, yet there are different interpretations and definitions of what it means to them as seen from the varying styles of composers over time. In Beethoven’s case, music to him was an escape from reality and his greatest ally in cooperating with deafness. However, there are other composers who sought to think otherwise. John Cage is an exemplary modern composer who believed that music doesn’t need to make sense. He simply