Music by friends, associates, and devotees of John Cage, performed by Isak Goldschneider, piano.

The central figure of the program is the American composer, visual artist, and philosopher John Cage. Revered for his avant-garde approach to music, Cage had a deep resonance with nature and the environment. His compositions reflect a constantly evolving world in which entities coalesce and interact.

Cage embraced the notion of imitating the processes of nature rather than its appearance. His interest in ecology developed through encounters with the ideas of R. Buckminster Fuller on technology and sustainability, leading him to infuse his compositions with environmental concepts.

Nature became both a muse and a teacher for Cage. His immersion in natural environments allowed him to develop a profound appreciation of their complexity. Cage encouraged his many students to compose with an awareness of environmental interconnection, fostering a symbiotic relationship between music and nature. He advocated for deeper listening—not only to enrich musical experiences, but also to cultivate ecological awareness.

In this concert, the music of John Cage, as well as that of his students and associates, becomes a vehicle for creative inquiry; four works explore a connection to the natural world.

Programme:

Jacob TV : Sound
John Cage: In a Landscape
Morton Feldman: Nature Pieces
Howard Skempton: Notte stellati a Vagli
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A co-presentation with Groupe Le Vivier

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We would like to thank the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, and the SOCAN Foundation for their support.