In "Themes and Variations," John Cage suggests that music, in its broadest sense, is a permanent presence in the world. According to Cage, the sounds and rhythms that surround us continuously form a kind of natural music. This perspective challenges the traditional notion of music as something confined to composed works or formal performances.
Cage's statement, "music is permanent, only listening is intermittent," implies that the act of listening is what brings our attention to the music that exists in the world. While music itself is ever-present, our engagement with it through active listening may be intermittent. We might sometimes tune into the sonic environment consciously, while at other times, we may be more absorbed in other aspects of our lives.
By emphasizing the role of listening, Cage encourages us to cultivate a heightened awareness of sound and to appreciate the music that unfolds in everyday experiences. He believed that by expanding our perception and embracing the soundscape around us, we can uncover hidden musicality in even the most mundane or unexpected sources.
Cage's ideas on the continuous production of natural music and the intermittent nature of listening align with his broader philosophy that challenged traditional notions of composition, structure, and performance. His exploration of sound, silence, and the role of the listener greatly influenced avant-garde music and expanded the possibilities of musical expression.
John Cage's perspective on music as a continuous presence in the world can extend beyond traditional compositions and performances. It can also be applied to the practice of sound design, which involves the intentional shaping and manipulation of audio elements. In this context, sound design can be seen as a form of meditation or mindfulness practice.
Similar to how Cage encourages active listening to perceive the natural music in everyday life, sound design as a meditative practice invites us to engage with sound intentionally and attentively. By immersing ourselves in the process of designing and sculpting sonic elements, we can cultivate a heightened awareness and appreciation for the intricate details of sound.
During sound design as a meditative practice, we can explore the textures, rhythms, and spatial qualities of different sounds. We may experiment with manipulating their timbre, pitch, and dynamics, or even combine disparate sounds to create new sonic landscapes. The act of designing sound becomes an opportunity to deepen our connection with the present moment and engage in a focused, immersive experience.
Understanding how sound affects us is key to controlling our stories, and by exploring the noise of our day-to-day lives we can chart the emotions it evokes (Harrison, 2021).
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