Meaning Of John Cage 4 33

4 33 pronounced four minutes thirty three seconds or just four thirty three is a three movement composition by american experimental composer john cage 1912 1992.

Meaning of john cage 4 33. A punch line for jokes and cartoons. It seemed like a joke. In fact it would.

It quickly became one of the most controversial musical works of the 20th century because it consisted of silence or more precisely ambient sound what cage called the absence of intended. 4 33 the silent piece is easily john cage s most famous creation. I would say that anyone who recognizes cage s name knows that he wrote a piece of music that consists entirely of silence.

So passed the premiere of john cage s 4 33 the three movement silent piece titled for its chance determined total duration and marked tacet for any instrument or combination of instruments. It is a piece that has become a sort of icon in post war culture like warhol s soup cans. It would confirm john cage as one of the most controversial and significant composers of the 20th century.

It was composed in 1952 for any instrument or combination of instruments and the score instructs performers not to play their instruments during the entire duration of the piece throughout the three movements.