John Cage’s 4'33", but played a cappella on this guy’s HANDS

5 April 2018, 13:29 | Updated: 5 April 2018, 13:30

You know that piece John Cage wrote that has no score and consists of literally any instrumentalist standing on stage in total silence? Here’s what it sounds like a cappella…

In 1952, the avant-garde composer John Cage wrote a piece that had absolutely no notes. The idea behind the work, in brief, was that any sound – even silence – can constitute music. And besides, humans never experience total silence – even if you manage to find a space free of external noise there’s the sound of your breath and your blood rushing round your body. There’s no escaping that. [gazes into the abyss]

ANYWAY, 4’33” is a three-movement composition whose sections last 00:33, 2:40 and 1:20 respectively… but don’t spend too much time memorising each movement, because they all sound exactly the same.

This a cappella specialist – Procappella on YouTube – has created a multiscreen rendition of the piece, using just his hands.

It’s a late April Fool’s Day treat, and it’s just great.

Here’s the time he played Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture on nappies: