The 1989 Laureates / Creative Arts and Moral Sciences Category / Music

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John Cage

U.S.A. / September 5, 1912-1992
Composer

“A Composer Who Established a New Style of Contemporary Music by His New Concept of "Chance Music" and Non-Western Musical Thought”
A great composer representing modern America. He made a strong impact on traditional Western music with his concept of "chance music," a non-Western form of musical philosophy and expression, which he established as one of the main styles of contemporary music. He has been a strong motive force in the most progressive group of modern composers as a pioneer of such revolutionary movements and has widely influenced not only musicians but also artists in other fields, such as dancers, poets, painters, sculptors, and photographers.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

1912
Born in Los Angeles, California U.S.A.
1931-1934
Study modern music under Henry Cowell
1934-1935
Study under Arnold Schoenberg at U.C.L.A.
1945
Study Zen Buddhism under Dr. Daisetsu Suzuki at Columbia University
1956-1960
Lecturer at the New School for Social Research in New York
1988-present
Professor of Poetics, Harvard University

AWARDS AND HONORS

1949
American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Award
1951
First Prize at the Woodstock Film Festival
1979
Carl Szucka Prize
Fellow of:
Center for Advanced Studies at Wesleyan University
American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters
American Academy of Arts and Sciences

MAJOR WORKS

1939
First Construction (In Metal), Imaginary Landscape No. 1
1943
Amores
1947
The Seasons
1952
4'33"
1957
Winter Music
1961
Atlas Eclipticalis
1987
EUROPERA
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