John Cage: 4'33" (Song Review)

4’33” by John Cage is one of the most straightforward pieces of art out there delivery-wise, simply being 4 minutes and 33 seconds of silence. There is not a single instrument being used, no vocals throughout the track, there is only pure silence. This brings up the question: What is the point of 4’33”? Cage sought to push the barriers of what could be considered music, and believed that music could be anything. Although 4’33” is completely soundless, I don’t think the piece should be viewed as “nothing”.  The intentional lack of sound directs listeners to have (or perhaps unintentionally seek out and create) an experience that is completely unrelated to the work, while at the same time wholly caused by it. 4’33” is not just silence, but also every single sound that ends up filling this silence. 

I have seen people calling 4’33” an objectively perfect piece of art because there is nothing it seeks to accomplish, so nothing can be criticized about it. I disagree with this statement completely. 4’33” is precisely four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence. The fact that it is a piece of music with a duration, is evidence to me that there is some aspect of the work that is qualifiable. Would it be a better piece if it was merely one minute of silence? Thirty seconds? Three? 

4'33” is best viewed as a concept, rather than a concrete piece. Anyone can get the experience of  listening to 4’33”, without actively listening to it. On this front, at least, 4’33” fulfills its ultimate goal. As Cage himself has stated, “There’s no such thing as silence”. There is always something that is being heard, and some type of auditory experience we are all going through. Whether it’s hearing the pitter-patter of rain softly and rapidly tapping the ground, or the scattered chirping of some unidentified bird, this is all part of 4’33”. As a piece and a concept, 4’33” is a constantly shifting and present experience. Even when compared with other pieces of music, there is something new to examine each time. 

Where, if any, is the line drawn for how far music can go? It’s hard to put an exact definition on “music” as something that’s a palpable practice, and not just a concept. 4’33”  removes all boundaries of thought by accepting music as a non-uniform force that may not even be purposeful. The music we hear is the music we create. After all, the sound of silence is a sound all the same.

Enjoyment: 5

Critically: 0

Arbitrary Number: 0