That seemed like a rare opportunity. The conductor only said it was a piece by John Cage, you may know about it, it’s perfect for tonight’s theme on environments, and it’s in 3 movements. I didn’t read the program much further than “John Cage” so I wasn’t sure if it was the silent song or not. As it starts, the conductor dramatically poses and readies the orchestra. The violins and flutes pose as if ready to play. They pause for a number of seconds and then they ralex their instruments on their laps as if waiting for conductor to enter or exit. This is repeating by different sections and combinations of sections throughout the 4 minutes and 33 seconds. The piece itself seems more about the latent noises made by the audience audience. The chuckles, a person caughing, umbrellas falling down, an exessively loud noise when one person got up to leave the theatre from one of the boxes, and a few whispers in the background as well.
