In "Searching for Silence," music critic Alex Ross comments on the life and works of John Cage, an experimental composer and musical pioneer of the 20th century. Cage's most famous work, "4'33", has been a topic of conversation among musicians and artists for decades: what is the meaning behind this piece? Is it art? Is it music?
I really enjoyed Ross's take on it:
"In a way, "4'33" is a tombstone for silence."
Ross argues that Cage intended for "4'33" to be a commentary on the complete and utter lack of silence in a modernizing world. Sounds of the city, of cars, of people talking, muzak in subways and elevators, wind against towering buildings...these sounds are an inescapable part of present-day life. It's possible Cage was fed up with the constant influx of noise from every direction, and used "4'33" to showcase just how noisy supposed silence can be.
It has been said that boredom is the fuel for creativity. For Cage, whose artistic medium was sound, the lack of silence may have been stifling: if the absence of sound is what he needed to create, then existing in a world where there was no such thing must have been incredibly frustrating. Perhaps this is why he spent so much of his life living in the country - he needed the peace and quiet in order to let his creativity flow.
This commentary really resonated with me, and I think it could really resonate with a lot of people living in today's world, as the excess of noise has only increased in the decades since Cage originally composed "4'33". Lack of stimulation continues to fuel creativity, and yet we continue to stimulate our minds more and more, refusing to allow ourselves time alone with our thoughts. What would Cage say if he saw society today, with our bluetooth headphones and our motorized everything?
While Cage did feel somewhat stifled by the constant noisiness, his relationship with background noise was more complicated: despite seeming to dismiss it in "4'33", many of his other compositions took advantage of it. He used random sounds from the radio, unpredictable sounds of what he called "prepared" pianos, and other unconventional instruments to create his music.
One could argue that Cage took took a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach to his noisy surroundings. Rather than try to shut out the noise, Cage chose to harness it. He chose to make peace with the noisiness of life, choosing to live out the last years of his life in New York City, composing with this noise, shaping it and forming it to his musical inclinations. Perhaps this is a lesson we can learn from him: background noise and distraction don't need to be an inconvenience that we have to deal with, they can be a medium of expression.
Comments