Listening to the World, Cage and Frey

With his iconic composition 4’33”, John Cage invited listeners in 1952 to listen attentively to their surroundings and to the subtle sounds of their own heartbeat and breathing. Since then, new music has continuously challenged us to hear the world in new ways. Swiss composer Jürg Frey creates works that explore the boundaries of the audible. His compositions make use of sparse sonic material and silences, turning silence itself into the subject of the music. The result is an invitation to reflect and to experience sound in a renewed way.

A sneak peek behind the scenes: composer Jörg Frey shares more about his piece during a rehearsal with the NEuE.