John Cage - In Celebration of his 65th Birthday

Morning Concert - 05.09.1977

Charles Amirkhanian

John Cage (Los Angeles, 1912 - New York, 1992) was undoubtedly the 20th Century composer who did the most to change the definition of the word “music”. In this program dedicated to Cage's work, which first broadcast on the composer's 65th birthday, Charles Amirkhanian presents a selection of his music which will attempt to dispel the popular notion that Cage’s philosophy of music is more interesting than the actual substance of his compositions. In the second half of the program Cage is heard answering a number of questions from a concert audience, in which he address the role of chance operations in his compositions as well as his opinions about the role of beauty in art.