John Cage on the 1960s Game Show I’ve Got a Secret
WFMU have outdone themselves again with this terrific score—John Cage as the music guest on I’ve Got a Secret in 1960 (eight years after 4′33″). He’s interviewed with bemusement by the host, then he performs Water Walk live on the set, which is completely fascinating to witness. (It’s almost like watching the musical version of The Way Things Go.) Good stuff!
Richard Wanderman wrote:
Awesome!
Posted on 03-May-07 at 4:21 am | Permalink
CK Dexter wrote:
The host’s comments are revealing: “He takes it seriously, I find it interesting, if you find it funny you can laugh, if you like it you can buy the album.” Such phony broadmindedness: simultaneously condescending to both the composer and the audience. “Now children, allow the eccentric man to take this nonsense seriously if he wants to.” And note that the final court of artistic appeal is the dollar vote: if you like it buy the album.
While I expected, given the nature of the program, that the audience would laugh, I’m surprised by how much, and how heartily, they laughed. The use of a cymbal on the bathtub _was_ pretty amusing, though.
Fascinating, in any case. Thanks.
Posted on 09-May-07 at 8:42 am | Permalink
David George wrote:
During the fifties and early sixties modern artists were still often laughed at because they challenged our most deeply held notions of what constituted art.
Most of this audience were only able to process this as a joke. But Cage was a harbinger of the social revolution that was soon to come.
Posted on 10-May-07 at 7:25 am | Permalink
William Lee wrote:
As suggested, I will ‘buy the record!’
Thankyou for that, though sadly I don’t believe most of the public has yet evolved beyond such disrespect…
Posted on 10-May-07 at 11:15 am | Permalink
martin McCaffery wrote:
I sure would have liked to hear the discussion that was supposed to take place afterwards.
The panel moving the desk should have been worked into the composition. How come there wasn’t a jurisdiction dispute there?;>
Posted on 10-May-07 at 1:01 pm | Permalink
felix boen wrote:
this sounds soundtracks used today in some movies…
at parts it sounds like a robot, the highs and lows of the drama…
the tense i just killed someone music…
and the steam sounnds like one of those pneumatic doors or something, or some kind of actuator.
sounds like really good ambient noise. for futuristic movies.
Posted on 10-May-07 at 5:01 pm | Permalink
Kevin Coffee wrote:
Watching Cage perform and adapt to the performance environment underscores how much later performance art owes to him and his peers.
Unfortunately, the MC puposefully avoided the Q&A prologue, which would have enabled Cage to explain his work (and consequently helped more of the audience to appreciate the performance). But it appears that the MC’s intent was to ridicule, not enlighten.
Posted on 11-May-07 at 6:33 am | Permalink
swtpc wrote:
RE: CK’s comment. I don’t think that there is anything condesending about what the announcer said.
Cage had his own brilliance, and had and still has fans and detractors. That was the nature of his work, and he took it in stride.
I can’t wait to perform 4′33″ at a family picnic… And yes, I will accept the reaction whatever it is.
Posted on 11-May-07 at 11:51 am | Permalink