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John Cage – Inlets

 This does not sound like music to me. Depending on the interpretation of different players or performers, this piece will always sound different. In this case, it sounds to me like someone is walking through a cave with water at the bottom, dragging their feet through it. Sometimes it sounds like water in a toilet bowl, especially when we hear the water in a bigger shell being swished around. These sounds are relaxing in the background, it is like a gentle stream of water. I just wonder what went through the head of the composer while writing this piece. But I guess he had some experimental ideas that are interesting to try out. Those shells are quite pretty, I have never seen such big ones that are not broken.

I was surprised when something else happened towards the end of the piece. That tone which came out of the one shell was so clear, it sounded like a trumpet. I didn’t know that shells can sound like that. It was quite beautiful. It was a nice way to end the piece.

I didn’t think there were people watching the performance, so I didn’t expect the applause at the end. I wonder what kind of advertising brought those people there, and if they actually enjoyed it or were confused by it. But I guess those people knew who John Cage was, and were expecting something new, different. Well, it definitely is interesting, and I kind of enjoyed it. However, I would not pay to go to a performance like that.
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