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. Cage recalls attending a party where what man leaves the conversation to work in the corner?

2. In the introduction to "Four Statements on the Dance," Cage recalls seeing unhappiness in what man's face because his music was rarely performed?

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

4. "Lecture on Nothing" was written in a format where there are how many lines in each unit?

5. In "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?" Cage recalls having an appointment on what day?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened when Cage attended a party to which he was not invited and asked the hostess for rum to drink?

2. What contributions is painter Robert Rauschenberg known for?

3. What does Cage say about error in "45' for a Speaker"?

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

5. What does Cage say about the title of his article called "2 Pages, 122 Words on Music and Dance"?

6. Where did Cage get the idea to write "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?"

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

8. What does Cage suggests that Morton Feldman felt about opposites?

9. How does the author think music will evolve in regard to percussion instruments?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Part 3, the author asks "What has been composed?" because so much is determined randomly. Why do you think Cage asks this question? Does he seem to be undermining his own work as a composer? What point is he trying to make about the relationship between creating and being random?

Essay Topic 2

Based on the three anecdotes after "Composition as Process--III: Communication," what is Cage saying about having expectations? What expectations are not being met? Does Cage seem to agree with the feelings expressed by the people in his anecdotes? How clear is his message about expectations? What techniques does he use to make his point?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the author's use of philosophical ideas. When do you think it first becomes clear that the author is approaching his ideas and work from a philosophical perspective? What direct statements does he make about philosophy? At this early point in the book, what does Cage's philosophy on music seem to be? Can you sense any philosophies on life in general?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 848 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample