John Cage's composition "4'33"", premiered in 1952 in New York, stands as one of the most controversial works of its time. In this piece, the composer instructs the performing orchestra and musicians to maintain a state of stillness during the performance, allowing the audience to listen to the natural sounds of the performance space (ambient sounds in the concert hall). This unconventional approach garnered widespread criticism, with some dismissing Cage's "4'33"" as a mere attention-seeking endeavor, devoid of any aesthetic significance. In response to such viewpoints, this paper adopts a critical stance. Through an examination of John Cage's creative journey, influences, and the inherent characteristics of chance music aesthetics found in his work "4'33"", we aim to dialectically explore the aesthetic thoughts behind Cage's "4'33"", gaining insights into its theoretical foundations and aesthetic value.

Xinyu Chen. Aesthetic Contemplations on John Cage's 4'33. Frontiers in Art Research (2023) Vol. 5, Issue 16: 48-52. https://doi.org/10.25236/FAR.2023.051609.

[1] Feng Changchun. From "Great Sound Prefers Silence" to "4'33" ─ Aesthetic Reflections on the "Music of Silence" and Its Modes of Existence[J]. Yellow Bell: Journal of Wuhan Conservatory of Music, 1999(01): 92-97. 

[2] Jiang Mingyun. On the Aesthetic Characteristics of Aleatoric Music[J]. Beauty and Era, 2006(02): 26-27.

[3] Larson K. Empty Duration and the Generosity of John Cage[J]. PAJ: A Journal of Performance and Art, 2018, 40(2): 78-84.

[4] Shen Xuan, Gu Wenxian, Tao Xin. Concise History of Western Music[M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Music Publishing House, 1999(7).

[5] Wang Cizhao, Zhang Qian. Foundation of Aesthetics of Music[M]. Beijing: People's Publishing House, 1992.

[6] Yu Q. Oriental Colors in John Cage's Chance Music[J]. Lecture Notes on Language and Literature, 2022, 5(4): 04-07.