Lecture on the Weather
Music by Cage, Tine Surel Lange alongside a public dialogue
What dreams for society do you carry within you?
This event combines public dialogue with a performance of Lecture on the Weather (1975) by John Cage—a work incorporating illustrations, weather sounds, and texts by Henry David Thoreau—with a public dialogue.
In his work, Cage asks about the visions that inspire us to reflect and act. He argues that vision is vital in troubled times—when corruption pervades, complexity overwhelms, power-hungry leaders spark wars and stifle justice; when herd mentality wins because resistance feels too isolating; and when unreliable information erodes self-trust while fear turns the unfamiliar into a threat.
These were Cage’s concerns fifty years ago, but do they not still resonate today? Both Lecture on the Weather and public dialogue ask how one can find new inspiration to shape the future.
Which visions and promises should we trust? How can individual voices still resonate within the collective?
The dialogue includes people with different experiences and from different backgrounds, including audience members as well as artists and musicians involved in the performance of Cage’s work.
After the dialogue, composer and visual artist Tine Surel Lange guides us through a musical finale. Her graphic scores—painted in watercolour and inspired by northern landscapes—can be unfolded and interpreted in various ways. Together, we explore how these scores can be played and shared, regardless of musical experience.
Please note: admission is free, but you must reserve a ticket in advance.
Facts
- Public dialogue is an open, facilitated format that uses active listening and personal reflection to explore complex or conflict-laden topics in an inclusive setting. The methodology was developed by the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue, who facilitates this event in collaboration with the National Museum.
- The event is developed with Global Oslo Music, a presenter and artist network founded in 2008 that promotes cultural diversity in Norway. Founder Malika Makouf Rasmussen received the Norwegian Society of Composers’ Equality and Inclusion Award in 2024.
- Tine Surel Lange is a composer and visual artist based in Lofoten. Her work is inspired by Arctic landscapes, environmental sounds, and mythologies.
John Cage. Photo: Rob Bogaerts/Anefo
Christiane Seehausen. Photo: Nansen Fredssenter
Astrid Folkedal Kraidy. Photo: Nansen Fredssenter
Malika Makouf Rasmussen. Photo: Richard Baltauss
In collaboration with
- The National Museum
- Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue
- Global Oslo Music
- Norwegian Society of Composers
With special thanks to
- Ed McKeon, Laura Kuhn and the John Cage Trust
