Music of Changes
Quick Summary
Music of Changes is a 1951 musical composition by John Cage for piano. It is a prime example of aleatory music, a genre where chance or indeterminate elements are incorporated into the composition, leaving room for the performer's interpretation. Cage utilized the I Ching to determine the piece's structure and content, aiming to remove personal taste and control from the creative process. This approach reflects Cage's broader philosophy of embracing indeterminism and considering all sounds as potentially musical, as seen in other works like 4′33″.123
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