Music Not to Read By: John Cage Interviewed by Jonathan Cott, 1963

Analog Audio

Event Type

Interviews

Origin

KPFA/WNYC

Identifier

C.1963.XX.XX

Program Series

Music Not to Read By

Program Length

54 min

Dates

| broadcast
| 402 | created

Description

A lively 1963 interview of John Cage by Jonathan Cott. The discussion covers several aspects of Cage's creative process and aesthetic. At every turn Cott antagonizes Cage with challenging questions. In addition, he quotes from numerous sources (including Norman Mailer, Michael Steinberg, Igor Stravinksy and others) criticizing Cage and his music. Includes a performance of “Aria with Fontana Mix” featuring vocalist Cathy Berberian.

This program is notable particularly for the challenging stance of the host, and is an unusual document that provides many moments of amusement as Cage parries Cott's thrusts with a veritable tai chi practice of music theory. The exchange over the quality of Cage's “Concert for Piano and Orchestra” vs. Schoenberg's “Piano Concerto” is one of the funniest exchanges in the history of new music broadcasting. In his defense, Mr. Cott has since explained that he was 19 at the time of the interview!

Produced for WNYC and Cott’s series “Music Not to Read By” which originally aired from 1961-1962.

Genres

New music

Musical Selections

Aria with Fontana Mix (1958) / John Cage

Performers

Cathy Berberian, vocals

Subjects

New music
Silence in music
Aleatory music
Chance operations
Songs (High voice) with electronics

Related place

New York (N.Y.) (was recorded at)

Related Entities

Cage, John
Cott, Jonathan
Berberian, Cathy