John Cage • 4'33"

[1285Escuela]

I'm hoping this will be on GLEE soon.

[ledzepfran]

It's full of mistakes.

[PabzGLRP]

That was an amazing violin solo at the end.

[MrJohnstonful]

I'm glad they brought in a guest violinist; most can't handle the subtle nuances of this masterpiece.

[goldencricket]

They're not really playing it, they're just standing there silently.

[40Ringz]

There are even trolls in the classical music world.

[RedCl0ud22]

find it hilarious that they needed to tune their instruments before "playing" this piece!

[shallowphil]

can't get this tune out of my head, damn it!

[KFCJones]

Too bad this was recorded before the phrase "this is actually happening" got popular.

[mushitsme]

this is my gcse music sorted:)

[istnicht37]

Kunst

[metube336]

"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." - --  Henry Mencken

Apparently this applies universally, not just to the American public.

[metube336]

"LOOK! The emperor has no clothes!"

[realraven2000]

Shouldn't they be turning the pages on their scores? Looks like they play it completely by heart. I want to practice this one would be a good filler after playing the Goldberg Variations. Oh just half way through 3:42, 4:35 - I didn't know before it it actually had 3 movements? I think it might be more interesting to see with an audience that doesn't know the piece as the reaction of the audience is the most important part of the audible aspects of this piece.

[Skizzot2005]

I can not believe that some one programmed this piece. I understand the concept....but.....really??? Well done I guess haha

[artman40]

I did a grindcore remix of that song!

[Rajhoul]

Incredible!!!!, listen to those polyrhythms!!!!

Now here comes the cello arpeggios!!!!

Trumpets playing in triplets and piano in quoter notes!!!!

Kessler has just dropped his flute so we'll have to start over again.

[metaserve]

I'd imagine this piece would be nerve-wracking to play. You have to be sure not to disrupt the silence too much.

[shadow21491]

waaaaat

[jeffamarie]

From the way they tuned, I'm glad this was their program.

[jeffamarie]

I wonder if any of them were nervous about their parts...

[eleanordee]

Smug, pseudo-intellectual wank for self-congratulating culture snobs.

[jackalexander102]

Can't believe I listened to that the whole way through... fml.

[lilkrissy123]

@jackalexander102 It's much better live, through video you don't really experience the music

[MyMurphy2]

fantastic page turning technique!

[lilianayres]

aff... muito ruim

[ChaosDynamics]

why did they bother tuning the instruments?

[dhaddox]

Why did they play the second movement first?

[EagleOnTheRhine]

My favorite part of this peice is at about 2:10 where the silence really intensifies.

I think John Cage did an incredible job of combinding the quietness of the strings and the muteness of the woodwinds.

I've been working on learning to play this, but I keep bursting into song at about 4:11. Almost there.

[Schaezen]

00:47 to 1:00 reminds me of the jingle you hear when you start your ps3

[kw21925]

I love that there's a "Guest Violinist". Do you think he got paid Musicians' Union scale for the gig? For that matter, does John Cage's estate receive a royalty payment every time 4:33 is "performed"? If somebody else released a silent piece, can Cage's estate sue them? These are the questions I ponder late at night when sleep won't come.

[lanenanena19]

esta obra tengo que interpretarla x

con mi grupo de música contemporánea¡

[RidleySS18]

Why are they clapping at the end? Is this serious? For all we know, those musicians could have been the first dozen people pulled off the street.

[Lievcocijo]

@RidleySS18

thats the beauty in fluxus

they very well could have

[FrontalTraction]

Haha, they tuned at the beginning.

[billheartyface]

I wrote something similar but mine is nearly twice as long.

[amlawrance]

Humourously pretentious.

[Rhys666Metaller]

John Cage was a student of Schoenberg, but will never have the same musical talent as him. 4"33 is simply a joke, Cage said there will always be sounds, there is never perfect silence, so why make a piece that tries so hard to be silent?

and wtf is with 'guest violinist' in this example? they still do NOTHING, it doesn't take talent to replicate this piece.

[Extenuation]

Maybe we should be happy they don't have to play a note. Perhaps the violinist really sucks.

[aviahadhad]

beautiful!!! amazing!!  genius!!!

seriously!

[hearmepeeps]

haha nice they're even turning the pages as they play

[istickyricei]

as they "play"

[Extenuation]

Well, some songs are just one big waterfall that keep comming. Some songs use the silence between the notes. Now someone made a piece with complete silence, and a lot of (narrow minded, i think) people start complaining. But when a piece of music is one big waterfall of sound, you hear them praise the composer. Perhaps the just don't understand the sound of silence.

[benitokicksass]

I know, I've been trying to get my book published, but no one has the balls to publish it because it has no "words", "pages" or "cover". They just don't get it.

I never watch TV.

[Extenuation]

You don't read much, do you? There actually is a book without words, only blanc pages. Unfortunately, I can't remember the title of the book (yes, it has one). What I can remember, is a book by W.F. Hermans that just stops in the middle of the story, in the middle of the sentence, followed by a few blanc pages. Quite interesting if you understand the philosophy behind it.

Btw, why do they tune up for a silent piece?

[benitokicksass]

Kanye West wrote a book with blank (or "blanc", looks like you don't read much, huh?) pages in it. Any talentless hack can bullshit their way to success so long as there are pretentious idiots who want to tell other people "oh, you just don't get it."

[Extenuation]

Sorry about the misspelling, I read in French, English, Dutch and German, so sometimes an err sneaks in, especially with those annoying capitals...

Anyway, John Cage is not a random "talentless hack". He does have quite a reputation, especially in the aleatoric music. I can't say I can appreciate his works, but to let the audience be the music in the piece... Let's say I like the idea. After all, he is the famous and influential pioneer in the avant-garde.

[benitokicksass]

That's still not music. Music by definition must contain rhythm and/or melody.

Art, maybe. Music, no. Bullshit, definitely.

[josepharimathea]

John Cage is not avant-garde. He is main stream establishment. Avant-garde would be something that is going AGAINST the trend, something experimental/innovative, not something the establishment embraces. Now if Cage were to suddenly write something that instantly captivated the public, the way say Mozart or Beethoven did over 200 years ago, that really WOULD be avant-garde today, but 4'33" is firmly establishment stuff, as promoted every day by the BBC and other main stream organisations.

[Magnickey]

dont know if he is an avant-garde but clearly he is a mix between aleatory and integral serialism... and that mix gives him kinda the stamp `Post Modern´ right? and post modernists embraces technology and mainstream no?

And at the time this was performed, his intention was to experiment with both Zen enlightment and creating a notion on the ambient sound around us..

[Extenuation]

Exactly what wikipedia said. Well read;)

No really: "creating a notion on the ambient sound around us" Couldn't have said it better. If this "song" included any Zen enlightment, I don't know. Sounds pretty accepteble though.

[Magnickey]

really funny, I am writing an essay about post modernism :P but didnt use wikipedia though, not reliable according to good old Harvard Refrencing *geek*

[wannabewinchester]

Of course there are parts of various pieces of music that have silence, but just because silence can be in a piece of music, it doesn't make it music. It's like- you can have a peanut in a candy bar, but having a peanut isn't the same as having a candy bar.

[Extenuation]

I hate to admit but you seem to have a point.

Still, what is art? Are Pollocks drippings art? Is Le sacre du printemps art? Is Britney Spears art? Could these comments be considered as art?

If these could be art, why isn't this?

But let's not be a hypocrite, it's the easiest piece I've ever heard!

[wannabewinchester]

I think I'd be willing to agree this is art; however, I don't know about calling this 'music'.

Haha. It certainly is the easiest piece I've ever heard!

[stupidfuckingidiot]

This made me lol XD

[goodbyelennon]

if the silence is music, so the cemitery is woodstock.

[reksub10]

this must be the fastest song ive ever learned

[dmnhntr86]

I've been trying to memorize this piece for weeks.

[Ghi102]

For those who do not understand why this is music, the music isnt performed by the musicians, it is performed by the crowd who makes noise.

[reksub10]

you are so wrong

[Cobrevolution]

This is not music. You cannot take credit for sounds that you did not create. The chirping of crickets or the hum of an air conditioner is not your invention, therefore, calling the sounds surrounding your piece "yours" is fucking selfish, not to mention idiotic.

[tazman1066]

without silence how can you have music?

[Cobrevolution]

You missed my point. He's claiming the outside world is "his piece". It is not.

[JamesR55555]

but the crowd is making no noise...

[harritullistiwa]

Yeah..supposedly this piece is performed by the crowed..but they are too shy..John Cage 4:33 is a form of aleatoric music..

[soranaru]

You know you fail when your most popular and recognized composition is silence.

[schmonday]

Fail? On what scale? I think it's a pleasant comment on overlooked beauty- calling the hacking and stifled sniffling of an audience member music, music being one of the pinnacles of beauty.

[soranaru]

To each his own. But I personally find it to be quite...asinine.

[schmonday]

Why?

[enarow]

Google Fluxus

[soranaru]

Doesn't get much more pretentious than this.

[BachScholar]

If I remember correctly, Todd Reynolds was at Eastman when I was. This is certainly a virtuoso performance and I commend Todd and the gang!

[taran801]

too bad audio quality:(

[nuclearmetal2008]

шо за даунізм???

[Sojio]

finally someone with some taste! lol too many people think about this music too much.

[NIKHILSTUDIO]

truly beautiful

[stickyxbutxsweet]

what the hell????? i dont get it :S...they didnt even play an instrument...on one of the comments down there it says " guitar needed to play louder" there was no guitar ffs!!!!

can anyone explain the point to this????

[xxXDamnationXxx]

@stickyxbutxsweet ... Look up john cage, then you will get it.

[Sojio]

Music is a combination of sound and silence at different proportions. This is the height of emotional music. If you sat there wandering what was happening you need to learn how to listen to music.

[stickyxbutxsweet]

Music is an art form whose medium is sound organized in time. Common elements of music are pitch (which governs melody and harmony), rhythm (and its associated concepts tempo, meter, and articulation), dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture.

taken from wiki......music is not silence!!!

[Sojio]

good example of how wikipedia is not a reliable source and can be edited by anyone

[stickyxbutxsweet]

i think that we should just agree that everyone has their own mind and thier own opinion on this, in my opinion this is not music and infact if i was sat there in the audience i would laugh my ars off , i mean would you realy pay to go and sit there while someone was just standing there haha, anyway sojio i respect your opinon even though it is far different from mine :)

[jazzupright]

another part of the piece is how the audience reacts to sitting in silence for four and a half minutes.  it's called experimental music because you don't know exactly how it will turn out.

[WraithCrestfallen]

You believe everything you read on Wikipedia?

[Magnickey]

wiki is not a very consice dictionary :P what it describes there is what music was since 18Century, but things change and that definition does too...

[dzl92]

does anyone know where i can find sheet music for this?

[r3z3nd3]

I never had the chance to hear this classic live... It must be amazing!

[mik9765]

OOH!!! I was really, really blown away!

What kind of self indulgent crap is this, You stand is place for 5 minutes and that's art? Gimme a break.

[Cellisima9]

it's called chance music. Music that could happen. music that is made up from any sound. whether it be the laughter of the audience or the fly on the wall

[Comatorium69]

So what? Why would you go to a concert to see people perform it when you can sit at home, go to the woods, and sit and listen to "chance" music? I appreciate music that shows a mood - a feeling or emotion. I find it extremely difficult to get any of that from a concert band standing on stage doing nothing. And if there is any type of emotion evoked, its nothing I can't experience on my own in silence.

I dunno, this just doesn't do anything for me

[Sojio]

why wouldnt you go to the woods? good question. A good answer though is that in an auditorium you hear different ambience than in a forest. this tune is usually played alongside others.

[beachbrunette11]

@Comatorium69 the whole point of the song is to see what different emotions people have and to see peoples reactions to the piece. It's pretty smart if you ask me.

[Sojio]

give you a break? Learn how to appreciate music.

Self Indulgent? A piece specifically designed so that each individual audience member has a clean emotional slate to create and entirely new set of emotions. Not really self indulgent. stop reaching for words. Its a shame people flame this music. THey really mis out on a whole different level of conciousness.

[joethepigg]

Finally, an important piece that even Joe can play.

[ntino666]

for the audience, this must be tantamount to being rick rolled.

[Drywalleaters]

guitar need to play louder

other than that its good!

[RSydBarrett]

i will play this in the school talent show.

[Bartwuerstchen]

I don´t like classic-music=)

[Huddiethegreat]

I should play this at the schools talent show

[funkifyyourlife]

I'd say that this is a brilliant rendition, but as usual, the oboe is out of tune. Almost perfect performance, though.

;-)

[YoJolina]

Lol the tuning.

[Letranger]

Makes you think... or feel... something (probably anger or annoyance)... but that's something... :)

[ertreri]

"he "played"?"

pricesly!! What the ****... i just heard the initial cello tuning, the clapping, and the final clapping...

Is this supposed to be 8 minutes o silence?

Geez!!

[celach]

um, this IS the piece, read up on it, search for "4'33" on wikipedia

[dabronx8018]

AARGH, I'm so sad I missed this! I graduated a few years ago, but gladly would have come back to recital hour. You can even hear the carillon in the background! PRICELESS!!!! And it did not surprise me at all that Schuster-Craig would be the one to stand up! AAAAAhahaha

You know, you complain about recital hour when you're there, but I kind of miss it sometimes now that I'm out... *tear*

[davis1337]

gotta love the tuning =P

this piece should be played by many more.

[SanFranCrisko]

My dad was asked to perform this on piano. He didn't know whether to be honoured or offended, lol. John Cage was brilliant at innovation and experiments but I don't rate his music at all. The people giving the standing ovation are typical of the pretencious audiences (and composers) that dominant contemporary music. They'd give a standing ovation to an orphanage burning down if it was classed as "contemporary art" just to try and prove that they're intellectually superior to the rest of us.

[MojoLang999999]

what u do here is to prove that u are the onw thinks he's intellectually superior, because,i think this piece is extraordinary and brilliant, because music is nothing more than a mixture of sound and silence, and what cage does here is to just "play" the silence....and the effect is that u can hear everything around u, every little noise....incredible

[WoWawmanlol]

my orchestra teacher says this is the only song he can play on the piano! he said one time when he did it some guy was in the back room playing the trumbone and he was doing a HORIBBLE job! that was funny! brought back lots of good memories

[deegirl222]

Friend: or

Friend: how about experimenting with sticking your hand in fire

Friend: with things that may protect you, like gasoline

[deegirl222]

Me: uh huh

Me: so i shouldn't expect my cereal to tast elike cereal i should always expect a different experience

Me: like perhaps it tasting like dog poo

Friend: consistancy is conformity

Friend: lol

Me: if i touch a hot stove and get burned i shouldn't assume that would hppen every time... i should experiment

Me: will it still burn me if i don't wear so cks

Me: how about if i do it with my hair wet wearing green socks and a purple tee shirt

Friend: yup

[deegirl222]

Me: in which case i'm a concert pianist

Me: and an astronuat

Friend: you could be

Me: and the queen of england

Friend: you could tour around the country playing this

Me: i'm playing it right now

Friend: the goal is to convince people that it is not that there is no music being played, but to expect music to be played at a concert is shows narrow minded heterosexist and racist bias.

[deegirl222]

Me: WHAT?!

Me: i don' tthink i follow

Friend: "what is music, what expands the concept of music, is music limited to the musicians, is music more than frequencies, is music silence, is silence music, is doing nothing artistic if you say it is"

Friend: blah blah blah

Me: no '

Me: no it is

Friend: "I'm pretending that doing nothing makes me a deep performer"

[Music4Ever]

I applaud John Cage his work in experimental composition, and think that he's one of the key 20th century composers, at least as far as Avant-Garde goes. I also understand the point of  4'33", but in all honesty, this is completely and ridiculously pretentious.

[thedeathmetal666]

They didn't do anything! Why give a standing ovation! I could just gather 20 of the least talented musicians, tell them to hold instruments, and then just look at my watch and tell them to be quiet. I bet John Cage wrote this as a joke to see how many people he could fool.

[timeschange279]

My music professor played this piece for class the other day, and explained the point of this song was to encourage people to listen to the music that is around them; the sound of an audience member coughing, the sound of a heartbeat, anything. Cage's music is quite inspiring. ty for posting this piece

[NuLLx42]

he "played"?

[bariswheel]

It's called meditation, and you don't have to pay for it. Go to a Zen monastery.

[5845147]

my goodness, why isnt anyone walking out on this?!?!? instead, they clap for it?! wtf?! i can sit in front of a piano looking at my watch for 4 minutes 33 seconds, and do the same damn thing?! they even get a standing ovation from a white guy and some lady????? what the hell is this crap?!?!?

[tazman1066]

Well without silence how can you have music, thats what John Cage is trying to show here.

[wannabewinchester]

Of course you can't have music without silence, but that doesn't make silence music, and I think that's why many people don't like this "piece".

[chris4312]

okay, my music teacher told me about this song, but isnt 4′33″ suppose to be

4mins 33secs?

[dandelium]

xDDDD

[700Ezalb]

I just wasted 8 minutes of my life. ty john cage

[acidiviola]

yeah.. (john cage was a true genie..)

[notetojan]

Now I can honestly say I haven't heard it all!!

[BrucknerEnthusiast]

Although this video was posted six months ago there are much fewer comments for this performance than for the ones by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and David Tudor elsewhere on YouTube (there are hundreds of comments for these, varying from abuse to serious appreciation of it) so viewers may be interested to see the arguments elsewhere. But this performance is the one which is the most well-received by the audience.

[GeorgeBushMustGo]

No, the guitarist who performs 4'33" on the No. 333 bus is getting wildly enthusiastic comments by YouTube viewers. Some of the comments have a +50 rating of more. Search for "cage 333".

[willzyx23]

with guest violinist, LOL

[Cervezaalucinogena]

Marvelous

[bistro39]

LOL!!!!! They actually bothered to tune beforehand!