Off Topic: Something Cagey is Afoot

Compare and contrast.

I have a love/hate relationship with the composer John Cage. I love his writings and I love the heady philosophical concepts behind his compositions, but I am otherwise completely indifferent to his music.

This opinion does not come from a perspective of complete ignorance, mind you. As an undergraduate, I studied composition for several years (I was a double major in composition and horn performance) with several faculty from the Eastman School of Music. For a while I even tried to compose pieces in this style.

Take for example this video of John Cage performing Water Walk. It is from the television show “I’ve Got a Secret.” The object of the game was for a panel of celebrities to guess what the secret is of the special guest.

The piece begins at about the 6 minute mark, but it is worth it to watch the entire video. While I find this absolutely fascinating from an intellectual standpoint, aesthetically it does nothing for me. I would never listen to this more than once.

Honestly, I see very little difference between this type of art-performance-music and a spoof called “The Recital” performed on the Carol Burnett Show. When I found Water Walk on YouTube, I in fact happened on this Carol Burnett video in the very same evening.

I was dumbfounded by the irony. It is interesting that the audience reaction in both videos is almost identical.

Because John Cage is so highly revered, I feel a little naughty and rebellious for making this comparison. Yet in another circumstance, the Carol Burnett performance might have been revered as highly as any John Cage piece.

My feeling is that because Cage was so intelligent, friendly and articulate that we have been hoodwinked into thinking that his stuff is worthy of great adoration and respect.

As an abstract concept, I believe it is interesting. He does break a lot of boundaries. As an art form however, it is hyped-up crap.

There … I said it. John Cage is crap. Now excuse me while I run for cover.