Misconception on John Cage's Piano Music

[Skeptopotamus]

All I want to say is that some of it is the most beautiful, soothing and lilting music there is, not to mention extremely accessible, bordering on the difficulty of Chopin Nocturnes, such as his "In a Landscape" (nightscape this piece is PERFECT for restaurant playing) and his "Dream" (also perfect for restaurant playing).

Also some of his not-late-in-life music is very listen-to-able (sorry for that) like his "Bacchanal", for prepared piano, or his "Ophelia" which IS modern but still a great listen.

[alzado]

Thanks very much for that posting.

I would love to try John Cage, perhaps the selections you mention.

I am only late intermediate, and tend to be scared off by some of the difficult professional repertoire.  Up until now, I would have expected Cage to be very hard and perhaps -- as with some moderns -- incomprehensible.

Again, thank you.

[Skeptopotamus]

my pleasure =D

[Derek]

Did John Cage really compose actual music at some stage in his life? The only things I am aware of are 4' 33", prepared piano pieces (which sometimes are interesting, like listening to some sort of drum set), and other pieces which consist entirely of snaps, crackles and pops.  But if he's written actual MUSIC, I'd be interested in hearing it. where can I find a recording?

[Skeptopotamus]

yes he has written actual music, some very pretty and some very boulez or stockhausen-esque.


look on amazon.

[prometheus]

There he took lessons in composition from Richard Buhlig, Henry Cowell at the New School for Social Research, Adolph Weiss, and, famously, Arnold Schoenberg whom he "literally worshipped". Schoenberg told Cage he would tutor him for free on the condition he "devoted his life to music". Cage readily agreed, but stopped lessons after two years. Cage later wrote in his lecture Indeterminacy: "After I had been studying with him for two years, Schoenberg said, 'In order to write music, you must have a feeling for harmony.' I explained to him that I had no feeling for harmony. He then said that I would always encounter an obstacle, that it would be as though I came to a wall through which I could not pass. I said, 'In that case I will devote my life to beating my head against that wall'."

[arensky]

Potamus,

Have you heard Boris Berman's recordings of the Prepared Piano pieces on Naxos? They're beautiful, he plays them like they're music, with a beautiful tone(which he always has)not some weird experiment from the 40's. If you haven't heard these, you should check them out, seeing that you're interested in this music. I'd be interested to hear your opinion regarding them.