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What's That Sound?: John Cage's Silent Masterpiece, 4'33", Becomes iPhone App for Users Around the World

That Buddhist rascal John C-A-G-E is back up and mobile once again.

Don't bother with turning up the volume on your device, though. The infamous 4'33" doesn't so much touch on the musical landscape as it does a more environmental one.

Apropos, Cage's silent masterpiece is now the hottest new iPhone ap thanks to the good people at Larson Associates.

The "silence" of the piece does not contend with the rests and caesuras from the likes of Bach, Beethoven or even the Wandelweiser Group. Instead, it is ambience, itself, that provides the "music"--the in situ charter of a field recording brought to live performance.

Just like Classicalite's Five Best Musical Silences (and our footage from HPSCHD last year at Eyebeam in Chelsea), this app isn't as simple as one would think.

So, at the risk or ruining this Cage 2.0 experience for you, get over to the iTunes store and treat yourself to something you've really never heard before.

Clocking in at 7:45, here's William Marx giving his renditon of 4'33" at the McCallum Theater in Palm Desert, Calif.

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