I found “Searching for Silence” by Alex Ross to be both very interesting and educational. Although I had learned briefly about 4’33” when I was learning to play the viola, We mostly just discussed the implications of the piece and how we felt about it. I did not know much at all about John Cage’s life or the reasons behind his composition. I think it’s interesting how the piece divides people between those who are inspired to listen and those who ultimately consider it a waste of time. One part of the article that really stood out to me was “maybe music could be an art form rather than a music form” which I think connects well to our soundscape project too. It shows how music contains ranges and can perform different purposes depending on the person creating it and the person listening to it. I also appreciated that the article discussed details of Cage’s personal life as well, such as some of his childhood, relationships, and quotes taken from interview questions he answered. It’s so interesting to reflect on how childhood experiences can change a person's outlook in life, as well as how they create art. The ending of the article was also notable, especially the author's discussion of Cage’s death and Cunningham’s perspective on everything. I think this article did a great job of both explaining the details of Cage’s life, perspectives, and experiences, while also highlighting the impacts of 4’33” and the different ways it has been interpreted by its listeners.
