Our modest contribution to the John Cage centennial celebrations. On 5th September 2012, we decided to undertake a performance of 4’33″on the train from Falkirk High to Glasgow Queen Street. Raising and lowering the seat tray served to mark the three movements. During our ‘silent’ performance this is what we heard:
Low bass throb
– of train thrum.
occasional>>>>>stabs
– of pitched track squeal.
a sigh
a cough
a sneeze.
earphones fizzzzz and
crisps crunch.
fingers tap on digital screens
as turning pages – fan
distant carriage whispers.
The shuddering recoil – from
– the slap of a passing train
all sound and silence cocooned
– underneath a bridge.
Out in the landscape
– an imagined Williams Mix:
Doppler-shifted siren,
birdsong and turbine whirr.
a ratttttttttttttling window
“tickets please”
tacet
the seat tray creaks.
Happy 100th birthday John Cage. In another place you are walking around Walden Pond with Henry Thoreau looking for mushrooms.
Now Playing: John Cage and David Tudor – Rainforest II / Mureau – A Simultaneous Performance (Part I)
Murdo Eason - From Hill to Sea 
9 replies on “4’33” on a train – John Cage Centennial, 5th September 2012”
Superb performance! Felt like I was alongside in the carriage – hearing nothing, hearing all.
Thanks Julian. A much appreciated comment. Just wanted to mark the event in some small way. Was also reflecting this week that it was through Cage that I first got to Thoreau. Both are revisited for sustenance on a regular basis.
Another typographical triumph!
Superb! There are no boundaries within the Cage…
Thanks Leigh – appreciated.
This is an absolutey astounding piece of work – shows what can be missed when earphones are in, and also the complete lack of silence and background noise that we are subjected to in this day and age (not saying that that is a bad thing) – fridges and airconditioning units in pubs and newsagents all add to the sense of space and sometimes paranoia if you open yourself up to it!
Thanks!
Thanks for the generous comment James. Much appreciated. One other observation was just how little conversation was taking place, even though it was a very busy train.
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Such a noisy sounding silence! I still hear the echo of his conch shell.