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This recording was made in December of 2014 at the birthplace of John Cage’s 4’33”, Maverick Concert Hall in Hurley, NY just outside of Woodstock.
The concert hall was closed for the season but we managed to wedge the microphone (and a camera lens, as you’ll see in the accompanying video) into a small opening between two wood panels to record the interior ambience of the small auditorium. Perhaps, this is what it might have sounded like during the debut performance of 4’33” that warm August evening in 1952 – less traffic noise maybe and certainly more scoffs from a handful of disgruntled attendees. It also reportedly rained that evening too, so perhaps imagine the light patter of rain falling gently on the rooftop while listening.
“I’ve spent many pleasant hours in the woods conducting performances of my silent piece, transcriptions — that is, for an audience of myself.” –John Cage, Silence