Day 95: Nothing John Cage and 4’33” By Nicholas Day, illustrated by Chris Raschka

In 1952, a pianist named David Tudor walked into a barn. The barn is a concert hall named the Maverick in Woodstock, New York. On that day the pianist sits at the piano for four minutes and 33 seconds and does nothing. Day describes the reactions:

Some people in the audience are angry.

We have been tricked, they say. They do not use their inside voices. They write upset letters to the newspaper.

But 4’33” is not a trick.

And as the years pass, it becomes something unexpected.

It becomes a classic. It is performed before thousands of people at concert halls. It is performed in tiny rooms by rock bands.

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A great picture book for both young readers and adults. The illustrations by @chris.raschka are great.

QOTD: what was the last picture book you enjoyed reading?