FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Norm Magnusson
mossmag@aol.com 917-686-0451
ANNIVERSARY PERFORMANCE OF JOHN CAGE’S 4’33”, HIS SO-CALLED “SILENT PIECE”
Woodstock, NY, August 29, 2013 - Paul McMahon (with Linda Mary Montano) will perform John Cage’s famous composition 4’33” at the Woodstock Artists Association Museum (WAAM) at 6 pm on Thursday, August 29, 2013. Admission is free. WAAM is located at 28 Tinker St. in Woodstock and can be reached at (845) 679-2940.
The piece was composed in 1952 for “any instrument (or combination of instruments),
and the score instructs the performer not to play the instrument during the entire duration of the piece.” It was first performed in Woodstock on August 29, 1952, presented by The Woodstock Artists Association at the Maverick Concert Hall. This will be the 61st anniversary of that performance.
It is an enormously influential piece in the world of art and is considered by many to be the perfect minimalist creation.
Norm Magnusson, who is producing this concert, saw it performed years ago by composer, percussionist, and avant-guardian David Van Tieghem and recounts that he was “surprised at how deeply moved he was by the purity of the work.” He adds: “4’33”, on one level, seems to be as close to artistic perfection as an artist can get.” After hearing it performed, Magnusson researched the piece, discovered that it had debuted in Woodstock, and decided to put on an anniversary concert. This is the third year.
Paul McMahon is a Woodstock resident, fine artist, raconteur, bumper sticker maker and amazing musician. His appetite for artistic expression is insatiable; this will be his first performance of Cage's piece. More on Paul can be read here.
Kay Larson is a longtime art critic for New York magazine, a practicing Buddhist and recently wrote a biography of John Cage, "Where the heart beats", which is now out in paperback. More on Kay can be read here.
After the performance of the Cage piece, there will be a Q&A with Kay Larson and after that, McMahon will play one or two of his own pieces.
The Woodstock Artists Association &; Museum was founded in 1919 to exhibit and collect work in all media by area artists and to support the tradition of Woodstock as the “Colony of the Arts.” It is a super awesome place that has attained even higher levels of awesomeness by agreeing to host this concert.
Questions? Answers? Call Norm Magnusson or Carl Van Brunt at WAAM.
