In the world of environmental science, John Cage was well-known and respected as a mycologist, an authority on mushrooms.
So I when I first heard, or should I say, when I didn’t hear the controversial piece, 4’33” (4 minutes and thirty-three seconds), I was surprised to learn that John Cage also was a composer, or a musical philosopher… or whatever he was.
In 4’33”, the musicians do not play their instruments, so throughout the three movements, the audience hears only the ambient noise in the performance space for four and a half minutes.
I’ve been thinking about John Cage for the past few weeks, because when I go birdwatching, which for me, is actually “bird listening”, I do not hear bird song. It’s not hearing loss.
I hear the aspen leaves quaking, an occasional toad call, and once in a while, agitated blue jays or crows.
At this time of year, birds don't need to sing to defend breeding territories or to attract mates. It’s more than that. Recent research has revealed that in autumn in many songbird species, the part of the bird brain used for singing actually shrinks. The birds don’t sing as much because they can’t.
So when I am out in the autumn woods, I don’t hear singing. I hear only the rustles of fall.
I am told that when John Cage visited Interlochen, he spent a good share of his time between the lakes outdoors under the stately pines searching for mushrooms. For him, that made perfect sense.
Cage once said, “I have come to the conclusion that much can be learned about music by devoting oneself to the mushroom.”
Eileen Ganter provided additional support for this piece.
