John Cage: A Mycological Foray

Published: April 14, 2021, 7 p.m.

In today's show, we attempt to visit the mind of John Cage. A beloved artist and lesser known mycologist, John Cage created a variety of works with fungi as a central muse. Cage is famous for his musical compositions and performances, but today we are going spotlight his mycophilia and impact his devotion to mushrooms had on his creative and metaphysical senses.

We are joined by the two authors who compiled John Cage: A Mycological Foray , Pascale Georgiev and Kingston Trinder, to talk about Cage's related archives and works. Audio featuring  Mushrooms et Variationes  is courtesy of the ©John Cage Trust.

Topics Covered:

  • Archival works of the Atelier Éditions Publishing House
  • John Cage as a cult figure and influence in contemporary music, performance, and citizen science
  • The famous 4'33" 
  • Anechoic chambers & Cage's search for silence
  • Events that speak to Cage's mycological experitise
  • Cage's mesostics titled Mushrooms et Variationes
  • Cage's collection of notes titled Indeterminacy 

Show Notes:

John Cage: A Mycological Foray: http://atelier-editions.com/store/john-cage-a-mycological-foray
Kingston Trinder's Website: https://kingstontrinder.com/
Pascale Georgiev's Website: https://www.pascalegeorgiev.com/
Scent Artist Sissel Tolaas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsllZ7GTKrA

Further reading:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/19/mushrooms-mortality-john-cage-fungi-mycology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odh2UhSxB9Y


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