September 5 - John Cage (The Musical Birthday Series, 5th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for September 5th are here: John Cage; Giacomo Meyerbeer (2019), John Cage (2020), Johann Christian Bach (2021), and John Cage (2022)

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John Cage (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was one of the leading composers of the mid-twentieth century avant-garde in music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not Taking Chances

But there is something about mushrooms that defies Mr. Cage's flights of Zen fancy. He admits of ''chance'' operations: ''It's only if I act like that with mushrooms that it can kill me.'' He would not, then, use the ''I Ching'' to pick mushrooms; there are bounds on his activity, limits to his freedom. – Edward Rothstein, “Sounds and Mushrooms,” New York Times (22 November 1981)

When asked if the mushrooms were deadly,

He considered and answered well-bredly 

With Buddhist psychology

Admixed with mycology

In a nonchalant mystical medley.

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Taking Chances

Mr. Cage, who had taken a stance

On the workings of musical chance,

Declared with alarm

That it spoiled the charm

When his colleagues prepared in advance.

 

 

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