Twenty Thousand Hertz

4’33”: John Cage’s revolutionary “silent” musical piece


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John Cage was a respected composer when, in 1952, he created his “silent piece”, 4’33’’ - a piece that would have the music world scratching their heads. This episode asks whether 4’33’’ is really “silent”, and we explore the history of a piece musicians still talk about today - and speak to the man who campaigned to get it to the top the British charts in 2010. Featuring composers Kyle Gann and Nahre Sol, and artist Dave Hilliard.


Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor

Follow Dallas on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate

If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org

Check out Kyle Gann’s No Such Thing as Silence: John Cage's 4'33" wherever you get your books.

See Nahre’s work at nahresol.com.

Find Dave Hilliard on Instragram at davehilliardart

Listen to more of Martin Zalta Austwick’s music at palebirdmusic.com.

Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/433

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Twenty Thousand HertzBy Dallas Taylor

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