A cartoon by a man name Cage about a silent piano composition was published 20 years before John Cage's 4'33"

   

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        rustle

 

 
cough

 
 

                    crinkle

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You have the right to remain silent.

But if you do, you owe John Cage royalties…

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Be quiet, I can’t hear the humming.

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With a piano? Look, I’m pretty broad-minded, but there are limits.

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Upright? Grand? Are harpsichords right out?

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I think an organ would be the obvious choice. Possibly a concertina in a pinch.

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Nah, I’ve been inside an organ with 3700 pipes a couple of times.
It’s not as it had been cracked up to be.

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3700 pipes you say…?

Oh%20my%202

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I once attended a live performance of 4’33" during a lunch time recital at the University of Edinburgh. The pianist entered the stage accompanied by a young lady and put a book of “sheet music” on the piano. Every so often during the performance the pianist would ostentatiously nod his head and his attendant would turn the (empty) page.

Note that this must have been an elaborated arrangement of the piece as the original music easily fits on one page – it has three movements, and for each of the movements, the complete instructions consist of the word tacet (as in “don’t play”). Also apparently according to Cage you’re free to use whatever instruments are available, and extend or shorten the piece as desired. 4’33" just happens to be how long its world premiere took.

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…sound of one hand clapping?

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I recently remixed that song and I’m thankful I didn’t get a copyright strike on this.

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Oooh! The use of dubstep bass is an ironic choice!

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If there ever was an instrument made to play 4’33", it was the concertina

“What was with that solo? You weren’t supposed to play anything there!”
“The music said ‘take it’ so I took it!”

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