John Cage, the American composer, created the infamous 4’33” in 1952. This movement of three sets held the title Silent Prayer in 1948 until its launch. The performance featured, pianist, David Tudor, who was instructed to play Tacit (Latin for silent) for three intervals - each separated by the abrupt banging of the opening and closing of the piano keyboard lid. The ambient unplanned sounds surrounding the audience (ie. coughing, shuffles, and whispers) during its debut contributed to the rhythm of silence revealing that even in silence, there is always something happening — contributions of being human.
We are alive, and it’s in this life that we are surrounded by the swipes, sighs, and glances of humans around us. If we pause in silence, our senses will be heightened to the rhythm of the sounds of slight gestures prompted by the people around us. We’ll hear life in it’s slightest. What a small but peaceful place to be.
