JOHN CAGE'S landmark and notorious work, in three "silent" movements of fixed length (30″, 2′23″, and 1′40″) derived by chance means, for any instrument. It was first performed by DAVID TUDOR at the piano in Woodstock, N.Y., on Aug. 29, 1952.

While often considered a musical joke, 4′33″ is in fact a deep reflection upon both musical content and rhythmic structure. The composer carves up the time; the listener then "hears" what occurs during that time. Cage seems to be saying that almost anything can be music, if one only listens.