Cameron Conaway's Blog - Posts Tagged "silence"
4′33″
In 1952, composer John Cage produced 4′33″—a piece four minutes and thirty-three seconds long in which the performer is instructed not to play their instrument. The “music” consists purely of what the listeners hear while it is “performed”—the song of birds, the laughter of people, etc.
While silence doesn’t technically exist, the quietest moments in our lives can offer us opportunities to listen to something deeper. 4′33″ was met with some outrage, just as quiet moments often are in societies where noise is normalized and perceived as progress.
There’s a truth to this quote often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi:
For those who value silence and the importance of listening, this can become a challenging but rewarding endeavor.
While silence doesn’t technically exist, the quietest moments in our lives can offer us opportunities to listen to something deeper. 4′33″ was met with some outrage, just as quiet moments often are in societies where noise is normalized and perceived as progress.
There’s a truth to this quote often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi:
“Speak only if it improves upon the silence.”
For those who value silence and the importance of listening, this can become a challenging but rewarding endeavor.
