Cage, other outside-the-box composers featured in concert

The Ohio University Percussion Ensemble will perform a concert comprised entirely of the works of avant-garde composer John Cage and those he influenced tonight at the School of Music Recital Hall.

Roger Braun, the director of percussion studies at OU, said Cage's work in the realm of percussion is legendary.

John Cage is one of the most important composers for percussion ensemble

Braun said. It's very typical for percussion ensembles to play John Cage. What's not entirely typical is to have a whole concert of it.

Jonathan Leichman, a graduate student studying music performance, said the various selections of the concert emphasize the music of the average day.

We're playing stuff that audience members ... might have heard at a dinner table before or an evening gathering in the living room Leichman said. It will hopefully help everyone that's there to become more aware of the music around them.

Leichman said one of the pieces he is playing on, Vous Avez du Feu? - translated to Do You Have a Light? - by Emmanuel Séjourné is performed entirely with cigarette lighters.

Ben Sonderman, a graduate student studying music education, said he is performing a Cage piece entitled Living Room Music which utilizes items like newspapers, teacups and chairs as instruments.

Sonderman admits that while he previously did not enjoy the music, in today's music atmosphere, nothing sounds like it.

All the music out there now is inside the box

Sonderman said. I'm looking forward to ... playing (this music) to get people exposed to it.