Many composers in the twentieth century struggled with how to write music that was completely different from anything that had been written before. Some of the most interesting and unusual solutions to this problem were invented by the American John Cage (1912-1992). Cage was fascinated by rhythm, and many of his early pieces, like his First Construction (In Metal), were written for groups of percussionists.

 

One of Cage’s most famous inventions is called a prepared piano. He wanted to write music for a solo performer that sounded like it was being performed by a percussion ensemble. He did this by taking an ordinary piano and putting pieces of metal, rubber and wood in the strings, so that when they were played, they sounded like drums.

 

Cage’s best known, and most controversial piece, is probably a piece for solo piano called 4’33”. To perform it, the pianist comes on to the stage and sits at the piano for exactly four minutes and thirty-three seconds without playing a single note. The music supposedly comes from the noises the audience makes as they get restless waiting for the pianist to begin.