Nothing
John Cage and 4'33"
1 Hardcover/1 CD

Starred Review BOOKLIST "Cage's groundbreaking composition is a big concept for youngsters to wrap their minds around and an unexpected topic for a picture book. But Live Oak's readalong offers a blend of vivid art on the page and a soundscape that connects the listener to both the book and their own personal environment. Behind Berman's narration of this simple story that moves back and forth from Cage's life to the shocking debut performance of 4’33” at Woodstock's Maverick Concert Hall in 1952, we hear what listeners of any performance of 4’33” would hear: papers shuffling, a ticking clock, the wind, the scuffle of feet, far-off music, voices, birds. We hear the stuff of life in such a way that the audio recording melds with the sounds around us. (Was that my dog panting or a recording?) In this way, listeners become another audience of the piece as it unfolds all around us and we hear the depth and richness of "nothing." Page-turn cues here are essential, functioning as markers of time and reminders to pause and observe. An essential listen for musically thoughtful kids and adults who still wonder how a blank page can be music."