John Cage

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American composer and music theorist (1912–1992)

Cage in 1988

Background information
Birth name	John Milton Cage Jr.
Also known as
Born	1912-09-05 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Origin
Died	August 12, 1992(1992-08-12) (aged 79) New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)	Composer, music theorist, artist, philosopher
Instrument(s)

John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was an American composer, music theorist, artist, and philosopher. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde. Critics have lauded him as one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. He is perhaps best known for his 1952 composition 4′33″, which is performed in the absence of deliberate sound; musicians who present the work do nothing aside from being present for the duration specified by the title. The content of the composition is intended to be the sounds of the environment heard by the audience during performance.

Early life and education

John Cage was born in Los Angeles, California, to John Milton Cage Sr., an inventor, and Lucretia ("Crete") Harvey. Cage's paternal grandfather, Dr. Thomas Jefferson Cage, was a prominent figure in the field of education. Cage's early education was at Los Angeles High School, followed by two years at Pomona College.

Career

Cage's early compositions were written in a neoclassical style, but he soon began to experiment with atonality and serialism. In the late 1930s, he began to explore the use of percussion instruments and prepared piano, a piano that has had its sound altered by placing objects between or on its strings or hammers.

Indeterminacy and chance operations

In the 1950s, Cage began to use chance operations in his compositions, influenced by his study of Zen Buddhism and the I Ching. This approach led to works such as Music of Changes (1951) and Imaginary Landscape No. 4 (1951), which involve elements of randomness and unpredictability.

Later works and influence

Cage continued to compose and perform throughout his life, often collaborating with other artists, including Merce Cunningham, Robert Rauschenberg, and Jasper Johns. His later works include Cheap Imitation (1969) and Etudes Australes (1974–75). Cage's influence extends beyond music to the fields of visual art, dance, and literature.

Personal life

Cage was in a long-term relationship with choreographer Merce Cunningham, with whom he collaborated on numerous projects. He was also an avid mycologist and wrote several books on the subject.

Legacy

John Cage's work has had a profound impact on contemporary music and art. His ideas about the role of silence and the use of chance in composition have influenced generations of artists and composers. Cage's legacy continues to be celebrated through performances, recordings, and exhibitions of his work.

Related pages

• 4′33″
• Prepared piano
• Indeterminacy (music)
• Merce Cunningham
• Electroacoustic music
• Zen Buddhism

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