New documentary about John Cage's relationship with silence coming to BBC Radio 3

The programme features UK premieres of conversations with Cage from the 1980s

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American composer, pianist and writer John Cage (1912 - 1992), 22nd May 1972. (Photo by Erich Auerbach/Getty Images)

Freya Parr

Published: July 8, 2020 at 10:42 am

A new documentary titled 'Silent Witness: John Cage, Zen and Japan' will be broadcast this Sunday on BBC Radio 3 in the Sunday Feature slot at 6.45pm.

The programme includes UK premieres of interviews with Cage from the 80s, when composer Robert Wordy met with Cage after having found his number in the phone book, and Cage reading his Lecture on Nothing, his musing on silence.

In the programme, composer Robert Worby explores John Cage's fascination with silence and how it was central to his life and work. Cage's best known work is 4'33'', a work made up of complete silence.

Silent Witness: John Cage, Zen and Japan will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3's Sunday Feature at 6.45pm on Sunday 12 July. The programme will be available to listen to afterwards on this link.

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Freya Parr

Digital Editor and Staff Writer, BBC Music Magazine

Freya Parr is BBC Music Magazine's digital editor and staff writer, editing and writing on all styles of music across both the website and print magazine. She has also written for titles including the Guardian, Circus Journal, Frankie and Suitcase Magazine, and runs The Noiseletter, a fortnightly arts and culture publication. Freya's main areas of interest and research lie in 20th-century and contemporary music. She's a regular sea shanty singer, folk obsessive and occasional flautist, pianist, organist and musical theatre director.
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