John Cage

While Wagner’s idea of the Gesamtkunstwerk mainly concerns itself with the interaction and synthesis of the various disciplines involved in the stage action and performance, the art of John Cage (1912 – 1992) goes a few steps further.  In the realization of his music, it is important that everything perceivable is accepted as part of a cohesive soundscape. As such, non-deliberate sounds, such as environmental noise or audible expressions from the audience – even perception-controlling impressions such as images and scents – also become part of his oeuvre.

“Composing’s one thing, performing’s another, listening’s a third. What can they have to do with one another?” – John Cage