John Cage (1912–1992) was an American composer, music theorist, artist, and philosopher whose innovative, unorthodox ideas and works have significantly influenced modern and contemporary art, music, and performance. Notorious for his avant-garde approach and use of non-standard musical instruments, Cage's work challenged conventional notions of what music could be. He is perhaps best known for his 1952 composition '4′33″', where the musicians are instructed not to play their instruments during the three movements, directing the audience's attention to the sounds of the environment that the listeners hear while it is performed.

Cage's influence stretched beyond composition into the realms of philosophy and visual art, embracing the principles of chance and indeterminacy in music, heavily inspired by the I Ching and Zen Buddhism. His contributions to prepared piano—where objects are placed on the strings to alter the instrument's sound—also stand out among his pioneering techniques. Though Cage passed away in 1992, his work continues to live on, with countless posthumous releases of recordings, such as "John Cage: The Seasons," "John Cage: Choral Works," and the ongoing "AboutCAGE" series, keeping his legacy vibrant and ensuring his seminal concepts in music and art remain at the forefront of experimental practice.

Genres

American Contemporary Classical

Avant-garde

Classical

Compositional Ambient

Contemporary Classical

Experimental

Related Artists

Philip Glass

Steve Reich

Terry Riley

Morton Feldman

Erik Satie

Brian Eno

Karlheinz Stockhausen

Max Richter

Arvo Pärt

Michael Nyman

Wim Mertens

La Monte Young

Latest Release

Cage: The Perilous Night

John Cage•

Ensemble Musikfabrik

Single - Released October 31, 2024