Göteborgs Konserthus Peter Friis Johansson plays Cage

In John Cage’s Sonatas for prepared piano, the piano strings are equipped with various objects that modify the sound. But that isn’t the main thing; the important part is the result, which is rhythmic, beautiful, low-key and fun music.

John Cage (1912–1992) was a pioneering composer. It couldn’t get much more modern than his famous piece from 1952 entitled 4.33, consisting of four minutes and 33 seconds of silence. Except – it could. He invented his own language without words or syllables. Today, 4.33 is his most famous work, and the music you can actually hear is less well known.

Here, award-winning pianist Peter Friis Johansson gives us the chance to listen to Cage’s work for prepared piano. The music is not particularly modern to the trained ear – it has tonality, rhythm, repetition: everything we are used to as listeners. But add a healthy dose of intimacy and mood, and audiences can prepare to bathe their ears in something that simply isn’t heard every day!

This concert is presented in collaboration with the Göteborg Art Sounds Festival (GAS).