View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. A member of what Greek organization accused Cage of believing art follows science?

2. In what month did Cage first present his lecture "45' for a Speaker"?

3. In "45' for a Speaker," Cage says a trip from where he is to what country is a complex series of experiences?

4. "Goal: New Music, New Dance" was first published in what year?

5. Where did Merce Cunningham study before going to New York City?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the process Cage using for writing "45' for a Speaker."

2. What does Cage say about silence at the end of "45' for a Speaker"?

3. What does Cage say about the form of "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?"

4. What does Cage say on the subject of poetry in "Lecture on Nothing"?

5. What does the author say about modern dance and whether it works?

6. How did Cage come to be in possession of a coat belonging to Ms. Reis?

7. What does Cage say about change in "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?"

8. In the third layer of "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?", what does Cage say about where "we are going"?

9. How is the essay "Lecture on Nothing" formatted?

10. Why did Vera Williams' children cry when she served them mushrooms on their steak?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore Cage's writings about Satie and Varese and compare and contrast his opinions of each one. What opinions does he have about what each man contributed to the evolution of music?: What does Cage say about the relevance of each composer? What does he seem to attribute to them? Whom does he seem to admire more?

Essay Topic 2

What is the significance of the series of anecdotes relating the perspective of various innovators in philosophy and art that only the present is important found in "History of Experimental Music in the United States"? Looking at each of the three anecdotes, what do they have in common, aside from their overall theme? In the article, does Cage ever say whether he agrees or disagrees with these sentiments? How does he seem to feel about the past and the future?

Essay Topic 3

How did Cage once feel about being labeled "experimental"? Why did he feel that way? What has he come to realize about the term? How does he feel about the label at the time "Experimental Music" is written?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 831 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample