Klarinet Archive - Posting 000701.txt from 2001/09

From: "Tony Wakefield" <tony-wakefield@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Jeering about Cage - T. Pay`s
Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 18:10:34 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Pay" <Tony@-----.uk>
Subject: [kl] Jeering about Cage

> I've actually performed it -- and if you want to know what I mean by
> that, what I mean is that I was on the stage during an advertised
> performance, and remained immobile and silent, in a performance stance.
> (Not an easy thing to do, by the way -- we had to rehearse it.)

And you got paid for it. Was that not to some extent being dishonest to your
own profession? You are a musician, a clarinettist, a fine one, not a mime
artiste. If another composer and music promoter required you to wear bra,
pants, and heels, would you readily rush out to your local lingerie
department? All this sounds quite silly, doesn`t it? But I think we have to
ask ourselves who it was who first thought of these controversial musical(?)
ideas, and whether the originator of these ideas wanted to create a
musically satisfying composition, or a whole century of controversy. I know
which of these two I would like to be a part of.

> The thing is, Cage just wasn't trying to do what some of you want him to
> have been trying to do.

I suspect that his captive audience had wanted to actually hear a sound
composition. Was this then not dishonest of Cage to have deprived his
audience of that experience? Perhaps even a double case of dishonesty if he
did not advise his audience prior to what they were about to 'hear', thus
giving them the opportunity to leave the concert room if they wished to.
To bring this down to grass roots level, which of course illiminates any
intellectualism, wasn`t this a case of a breach of the trade descriptions
act? A breach of contract? And in the world of business, would Cage not have
been hauled up into the county court for this? The world of business does
not of course compare to the world of art, but comparisons are very
interesting, and there is indeed a similarity. Both involve the client or
audience paying hard cash for the privilege.

Best,

Tony W.
(I would hope Tony may relate his experiences of the metronome composition
at some stage. I promise not to pull this to pieces.)

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