Matthew's Journal

Last year, on 23 December, I posted on facebook: "[emperor] thinks that John Cage's 4'33" should be the internet campaign for Christmas number one next year :-)". Clearly I wasn't the only person to think this, and some people even got their act together, and are trying to make it happen. Follow the think from here to amazon, and buy the single for 49p :-)[0]

I've liked Cage's 4'33" for quite some time now, having first encountered it at the GSM where my musicianship class one year was taken by someone who was very keen on 20th century music. When I had a radio show on CUR1350, it was the one thing the programme controller forbade me from playing - silence and radio make uncomfortable bedfellows. I'm a bit sad that it only ever seems to appear as a bit of a joke, as is the author of this little article on the background to the work. Cage's work reminds me that no-where is quiet these days, even concert halls, and it's a chance to pause and be reflective.

OTOH, if people who think it's a joke get it to Number 1, I won't be complaining at all. In fact, I'll be a very happy man :-)

[0] The Christmas Number 1 this year will be the track that's number 1 this Sunday, so based on purchases made this week