In the world of environmental science, John Cage was well-known and respected as a mycologist, an authority on mushrooms.
So I when I first heard, or should I say, when I didn’t hear the controversial piece, 4’33” (4 minutes and thirty-three seconds), I was surprised to learn that John Cage also was a composer, or a musical philosopher… or whatever he was.
In 4’33”, the musicians do not play their instruments, so throughout the three movements, the audience hears only the ambient noise in the performance space for four and a half minutes.
I’ve been thinking about John Cage for the past few weeks, because when I go birdwatching, which for me, is actually “bird listening”, I do not hear bird song. It’s not hearing loss.
I hear the aspen leaves quaking, an occasional toad call, and once in a while, agitated blue jays or crows.
