May's Musician of the Month - John Cage

May's 'Musician of the Month' is John Cage, an American composer and music theorist. He had some interesting ideas about music and how it could be appreciated. Click on 'read more' to find out some more about him and to hear some of his music.

John Cage was born in 1912 and died in 1992. He is most famous for his 1952 composition, 4'33". 

Did you know...?

• Cage travelled around the U.S.A. and parts of Europe
• He was taught by Schoenberg (a famous composer)
• He once accompanied his aunty's modern dance classes
• He liked to allow the listener and performer to 'experience' his music, this meant that sometimes it sounded quite different from other music at the time (listen to 4'33")
• He invented a new instrument called 'the prepared piano' which made the piano have more percussive sounds (listen to Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano) 
• He wanted music to not be controlled (listen to Imaginary Landscape No.4 which uses radios - meaning the music will be different every time you play it)

Listen to the YouTube clips below and leave a comment with your thoughts about what you have heard.

4'33"

Prepared Piano

Imaginary Landscape No.4 (for 12 radios)