John Cage's Zen Buddhism 101 Introduction of Silence for Today

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
Reviewed by Elivi Varga

One of my favorite works to teach in music appreciation classes is John Cage's infamous 4'33''. I ask for a volunteer student to sit at the piano and not play a single note for the duration of four minutes and 33 seconds. Inevitably, a lively debate follows. Is this music? In this centennial of Cage's birth, author Kay Larson pointillistically and thoroughly maps out how Cage arrived at 4'33" 60 years ago, and how he evolved after it, in "Where the Heart Beats". The title of the book encompasses an enormous amount of subject material, which Larson covers in great detail. Drawing from a vast collection of resources, she intersperses passages from Cage's words from letters, interviews, and lectures, while explaining the influence of Buddhism and his immense circle of artist friends on his life. The debate about the merits and meaning of 4'33" continues. [link]