Chance Conversations: An Interview with Merce Cunningham and John Cage

[bauersnarky]

I played violin for "Ocean" back in 2008 when it was performed down in a quarry in Waite Park, MN. I think I was the only one from the orchestra that actually met Merce Cunningham; I made a point to do it and I was totally in awe the whole time while I was talking to him. Truly a brilliant human being. I got a terrible cold from sitting in that cold and damp quarry for a week of September evenings, but I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.

[toborexperiment]

I would have gave an arm to meet them back then...

[badazzpresidents23]

That woman is so lucky to have had the chance to talk with both of these men.

[badazzpresidents23]

They are both such brilliant and loving people :)

[SnapshotsMusic]

Virgil Thomson, composer and writer, said John Cage had 'no ear'. Was he right?

[badazzpresidents23]

@SnapshotsMusic No. He wasn't. Although Zappa did say something along the lines of finding John Cage's work more interesting to read and how it was written rather than how it actually sounded.

[zenticulum]

Saw the Legacy Tour at the Theatre de Nimes last night. Scintilating performance. First time I had seen anything like this - and this interview explains a lot. 30 years on!

[chiledofthekorn]

this is a realy good interview

if you are a fan of joh cage you have to hear

gabriel williams - time travel in music

[sleepytimejesse]

Who the fuck's idea was it to sit awkwardly in the center of a large gymnasium next to a busy road.

[CaptainSpork7]

@sleepytimejesse Yeah, really. Plus the reporter seems either inexperienced or simply awkward.

[IainEmslie]

@sleepytimejesse I think it was intentional.

[spyriadon]

Beautiful calculated people thinking before they speak.

So unlike many today.

[SeymorOblivion]

one dislike

how stupid !

[zmitregnistegra]

Both are so full of shit.

[speedskis777]

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiii DDDDDOOOONNNTTT GGGEETTTTT IIIIITTTTTTTTTTTT SPEEEAAAKKKKK NNORRMAAAALLLLLL

[rickybojangles]

@speedskis777 they seem to me to be speaking quite plainly and clearly about their working processes, which i find refreshing, especially considering how difficult their work can seem. to know the specific roots and bases of their practices is illuminating to me. mine is just one perspective, but maybe watch the interview again and reconsider their what they are saying about their approaches, or perhaps take a look at the i ching, for example. idk, maybe it just isn't for everyone.

[beatlesmack9]

I don't feel John Cage can rightly be called a composer because he didn't right music, but sound, and they are not the same

[blackus99]

@beatlesmack9 compose, from latin componere, com - together; ponere - to put. a composer is someone who puts together.

[pianoatUtube]

@beatlesmack9

music IS sound, sound IS music...

best regards... :)

[pianoatUtube]

@beatlesmack9

music IS sound, sound IS music...

best regards... :)

[ScottBuckBands]

@beatlesmack9

Mr Cage wrote quite a bit of wonderful "straight" music for strings and piano. His compositions in the more classical style are very lovely and beautiful.



[ilovesteves]

@beatlesmack9 I don't think you understand the beauty of what Cage has done. He's put those things together, it's a shame more composers don't listen to him, Music is an artform, if you think of classical music as a perfectly painted landscape, neo-classicism is slightly more, it's more expressive, and then eventually impressionist which is like Debussy, If you look at modern art, there is no representation in composition. - John Cage is the missing link, it's not a change, its a development.

[nobodady1]

@beatlesmack9 Whether what he composes is music or something else is a separate question ----- he certainly composed, that is, put things together ---- instructions involved in the production of sounds. Cage even said himself that if one has trouble referring to what he is composing as music one can call it something else.

[zaneisthemaster]

@beatlesmack9 i dont feel you should have a valid opinion because you dont know the difference between right and write

[hennsinn1]

Ｈｉｓ　ｖｏｉｃｅ　ｉｓ　ｓｉｌｅｎｃｅ　ｍｕｓｉｃ　

[Consciousish]

He was magnificent in Mortal Kombat.

[LostandFoundTravel]

@Consciousish Favorite comment of 2011.

[thatguy5557123]

where can i see these performances? does any one know?

[rlevanony]

I love John Cage.

[flightofscarlett]

i have been looking for this film forever. magic. thanks.

[jarbear]

"...the loudest doors I've ever heard!"

John Cage is lovely.

[ltesoniero]

Iv been struggeling to write an essay on these 2 for a couple of days now. This interview has been a massive help. thanks.

[DADA090161]

thank you verry much for this video !! great !!!!

[agentcodyBANGS]

hey thank you for this, its really helpful.

can i ask why cage thought that people are more involved with their eyes?

8.29

[manrayyy333]

The first 6 minutes are so interesting!

[qtyqty4]

this is most deficient from all ways.thank you.

[karolisbiveinis]

very nice video, thank you!

[apanhadordearrepios]

cage is so cool!

[cosiendodos]

thank you so much for this material!

[pau1more1]

great interview! Thank you, Walker Art Center!

[Curetiamhices]

two Masters!!!! this is a good class!

[isa2222]

What a loss ! a big life and a huge contribution to the world of contemporary dance farewell Merce

[ead1529]

R.I.P. Merce Cunningham