How to Get Out of the Cage: A Year With John Cage

An interesting and informative documentary about an influential figure
John Cage very early on in this documentary states that he has 'no feeling for harmony' but is interested in sounds (without harmony). This, in the light of musical history is a pretty strong challenge to the musical establishment. As time went by he extended this to an exploration and belief in the pursuit of 'chance' where the sounds he 'created' were presented in an increasingly random way where each piece becomes a new piece at the point of performance and where the performer is actively involved in the process of the 'composition'. He relates this concept of chance to that of some Chinese philosophy.

In one ballet extract he explains that the 'music' has nothing to do with the dancers' movements, both being conceived randomly. In addition, the only reason that both can be experienced in the same performing space is 'for the convenience' of the viewer/listener. In other words the two elements of the dance and the sounds could be performed independently in completely...

Another Master
In the 60's when I first discovered John Cage, his concept of the perception of sound-----or, no sound [both as composition] changed my life forever
Here is a wonderful journey into the mind of John cage



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