Understanding “silence”

On Friday, January 18, Mark and I proudly made our first appearance in the CMW Workshop circuit. Not only was it the workshop debut of our electroacoustic duo, Mem1, but it was also the first time CMW participants were exposed to one of my favorite composers, John Cage. We performed Cage’s seminal work, 4’33" in which the musicians on stage are directed to NOT play for four minutes and thirty-three seconds.

When I had announced that we were going to perform this piece I saw Minna’s jaw drop open. It was not until then did I realize that this was a potentially dangerous situation: two experimental musicians sitting in a room full of energetic children holding expensive instruments, with us doing absolutely nothing, no matter what happened. As we started the piece, I became somber, staring straight ahead, barely moving (except to start and stop the stopwatch) and appearing as though in a trance (as noted by one of the confused parents). My partner Mark experienced something quite different. I heard more giggling from him than anyone else in the room. He was fully entertained by all the excitement in the room during the piece: strings plucking, nervous shuffling, toilets flushing, "The loudest performance of 4’33" ever!" he excitedly announced to me afterwards.

We were both EXTREMELY impressed with our young CMW audience because THEY TOTALLY GOT IT! I honestly didn’t know what to expect, but their reactions were more than I could have ever dreamed. When I asked if that piece we just performed was actually music, I heard an astounding "YES!" These kids, ages 7-18 mind you, totally understood the theory that there really is no such thing as silence, and that everything deserves to be listened to.

-Laura Thomas-Merino, CMW Cello Fellow