John Cage

This is footage of john cage performing water walk on the tv programme i've got a secret in january of 1960. I find it most interesting how he manage to get to perform this piece on a fairly main stream tv show. It seems that the genre of "variety" can be a use full outlet for the avant garde music, giving an outlet for frank zappa to play a bicycle on live tv, and more recently, Henry Dagg playing his cat organ on britain s got talent.

I like the way that Cage seems to coyly understand his audience. Though in his writting he can muse very intellectually and philosophical about what he does, here he works the crowd well, allowing and almost encouraging laughter, and playing the character of "the weird avant garde guy" to a tee, with his sharp suit and non-plused expression.

it is the integrity and seriousness that makes it funny, but also makes his performance so interesting. The exactness of timing with which he makes seemingly mundane noises make us realise it is composed and precise. so does this make it a piece of music?