John Cage - Water Walk

John Cage performing "Water Walk" in January, 1960 on the popular TV show I've Got A Secret.

via WFMU:
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/04...

"At the time, Cage was teaching Experimental Composition at New York City's New School. Eight years beyond 4:33, he was (as our smoking MC informs us) the most controversial figure in the musical world at that time. His first performance on national television was originally scored to include five radios, but a union dispute on the CBS set prevented any of the radios from being plugged in to the wall. Cage gleefully smacks and tosses the radios instead of turning them on and off.

While treating Cage as something of a freak, the show also treats him fairly reverentially, cancelling the regular game show format to allow Cage the chance to perform his entire piece. "

• Category

  Music

[zoejiang1224]

I think Cage considered the idiots laughing as part of his music

[ReverseLBlock]

No, you don't get it. The laughter is part of the song, whether the audience knew it or not.

[earrelevantmusic]

most elegantly done, Mr. Cage!

[CaptainBeaverballs]

If someone showed me this video without the introduction, I never would have guessed "music."

[Didei Xii]

It's pretty funny and weird when I watched John doing all those things but I replayed it and listened to the music itself and The music had a story. Creativity depends on ever person. I think he is creative and his music is weird but I find it good to hear. Just don't call me a weirdo for liking this guy's music. : )

[canek zapata]

Like my art, well maybe is bad... but J. Cage Art? you must be kidding.

[Haagaustin]

Your art is bad and you should feel bad

[whitney cruz]

my homework brought me here. Strange.

[Faisal Messy]

Weird



[Dan McCaffrey]

I think the audience would laugh much the same.

[JUBEJU22]

Music doesn't always have to be serious. That's why we PLAY music...it's meant to be fun!

[psychicbyinternet]

I dunno. It's music but it's still pretty funny.