About The Letter
I wrote to John Cage while doing research on inner music (which lead to publication of the Dreamworks article) and he graciously replied. Scans of this letter are shown below: click on either one to get a high resolution image. The text of the letter also follows below:
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Stony Point, N.Y. 10980
Feb. 5, 1970
Dear Francis Leach,
Thank you for your letter & review.
If you look at my article in "Silence" called Forerunners of Modern Music, my use below of the words form, structure, & method will be clear, I hope.
I now believe and have given many examples in music (since my Music of Changes) that chance (I Ching) may provide not only method but structure & form too. In the case of 12- tone music, very often only
method (note to note or procedure) is provided, structure being relatively conventional (as in much Schoenberg). I believe that chance operations
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constitute a thorough discipline, removing likes & dislikes of the ego & opening the music & the composer to the world around him whether musical or not.
Your 2nd ? re spiritual forces controlling I Ching: There is no split between body & spirit. We are one in and out. "Earth has no escape from Heaven."
I have not heard music in a dream or if so have not listened in a way to become interested in it. I hear things when they're audible.
Yes, music sometimes runs through my head without my willing it. This is one of the things that annoys me about music.
With best wishes to you,
John Cage
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