John Cage and the ‘New York School’
Noise
from A Futurist Manifesto (1908) Italian Futurism F. Marinetti from A Futurist Manifesto (1908) We affirm that the world’s magnificence has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed. A racing car whose hood is adorned with great pipes, like serpents of explosive breath—a roaring car that seems to ride on grapeshot is more beautiful than the Victory of Samothrace.
from A Futurist Manifesto (1908) Italian Futurism F. Marinetti from A Futurist Manifesto (1908) We affirm that the world’s magnificence has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed. A racing car whose hood is adorned with great pipes, like serpents of explosive breath—a roaring car that seems to ride on grapeshot is more beautiful than the Victory of Samothrace. We will glorify war—the world’s only hygiene—militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of freedom-bringers, beautiful ideas worth dying for.
from A Futurist Manifesto (1908) Italian Futurism F. Marinetti from A Futurist Manifesto (1908) We affirm that the world’s magnificence has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed. A racing car whose hood is adorned with great pipes, like serpents of explosive breath—a roaring car that seems to ride on grapeshot is more beautiful than the Victory of Samothrace. We will glorify war—the world’s only hygiene—militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of freedom-bringers, beautiful ideas worth dying for. Luigi Russolo, The Art of Noises (1913): six families of noise Roars, Thunderings, Explosions, Bangs, Booms Whistling, Hissing, Puffing Whispers, Murmurs, Mumbling, Muttering, Gurgling Screeching, Creaking, Rustling, Buzzing, Crackling, Scraping Noises obtained by beating on metals, woods, skins, stones, pottery, etc. Voices of animals and people, Shouts, Screams, Shrieks, Wails, Hoots, Howls, Death rattles, Sobs Luigi Russolo: six families of noise
Luigi Russolo with his Intonarumori
New Musical Resources (1930) Henry Cowell The Banshee New Musical Resources (1930)
Sonatas and Interludes (1948)
Silence
John Cage — A Composer's Confessions (1947) I wish to compose a piece of uninterrupted silence and sell it to the Muzak Corporation. It will be three or four-and-a-half minutes long—those being the standard lengths of "canned" music and its title will be Silent Prayer. It will open with a single idea which I will attempt to make as seductive as the color and shape and fragrance of a flower. The ending will approach imperceptibility.
1951 — Anechoic Chamber "Until I die there will be sounds. And they will continue following my death. One need not fear about the future of music."
Webern Cage met Morton Feldman in 1950 at a NY Philharmonic performance of Webern’s Symphonie, Op. 21 Both walked out at intermission, rather than stay for Tchaikovsky Feldman, Projection I (1950)
Colour and Line
Dada
Hugo Ball Dada Manifesto (1916) An International word. Just a word, and the word a movement. Very easy to understand. Quite terribly simple…Dada Tzara, dada Huelsenbeck, dada m'dada, dada m'dada dada mhm, dada dera dada, dada Hue, dada Tza. How does one achieve eternal bliss? By saying dada. How does one become famous? By saying dada. With a noble gesture and delicate propriety. Till one goes crazy. Till one loses consciousness.
Fountaine (1917) Marcel Duchamp Rrose Sèlavy
Funeral March for the Obsequies of a Deaf Man (1897) Alphonse Allais Funeral March for the Obsequies of a Deaf Man (1897)
Erwin Schulhoff In futurum (1918)
White Painting — Seven Panel (1951) Robert Rauschenberg White Painting — Seven Panel (1951)
If one were sensitive enough that you could read it, that you would know how many people were in the room, what time it was, and what the weather was like outside.
Suprematist Composition: White on White (1918) Kazimir Malevich Suprematist Composition: White on White (1918)
0’00” (4′33″ No. 2) 1962 "In a situation provided with maximum amplification, perform a disciplined action." One3 = 4′33″ (0′00″) + 1989
Ryoanji