Notes From Gordon 250214: Let Me Get This Off My Chest

ATTENTION SPAN NOTICE!
Reading time: 377 words @ 238 wpm = 1 minute, 38 seconds

TONE: Deeply confessional.

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In 1952, experimental composer, John Cage, wrote an orchestral piece titled 4′33″ containing three movements in which instrumentalists were not to play a single note.

As noted by Wikipedia, “… the composition… is marked by silence except for ambient sound, which is intended to contribute to the performance.”

Let us envision the performance together.

The tympanist is staring intently at the sheet music, ready to strike with his mallet. The pianist’s fingers are poised above the keys. Violin bows are at the ready, but never drawn across the strings.

Chairs squeak and clothing rustles. Other than that, there is an eerie silence from the stage as the audience holds its breath.

Everyone is tense as the conductor flails about with his baton in a frantic attempt to prevent the perspiring orchestra from playing a single note.

At the end, the performers visibly relax as the conductor turns to take a bow and the audience erupts in approving applause of a stirring performance.

I was deeply moved upon remembering this remarkable composition which underscores the dualistic nature of reality.

So moved, in fact, that I felt inspired to write the following essay in which I openly confess all of my sins. It’s so good to get them off my chest.

___ _________ ___ _________ ______ ___ _____ __ _ ______ _______ __ _______ ___ _____ ___ _________ ____ _______ _ ______ ____.

______ ____ ___ __ ___ _____, ___ _____ _____ _____ ___ ______. ___ _________ ______ ________ __ ___ _____ _____, _____ __ _____ ___ ____ ____ ____ _ ____, ___ ____ ____ __ ___ ____ ______.

___ _________ ___ _________ ______ ___ _____ __ _ ______ _______ __ _______ ___ _____ ___ _________ _________ ____ _______ _ ______ ____.

______ ______ ___ ________ _______. _____— ____ ____, _____ __ __ _____—_______ ____ ___ _____ __ ___ ________ _____ ___ ______.

__ ___ ___, ___ __________ _____ __ ___ _________ _____ __ ____ _ ___ ___ ___ ________ ______ __ _________ ________!!

Well, that’s it for today. Thanks as always for reading. I hope you make it a good one.

Gordon