Meaning: The quote provided is a reflection on the work of composer John Cage and his piece "Music of Changes." It was made by fellow composer Earle Brown. The quote suggests that Cage's composition marked a significant shift in the approach to art and music, indicating a conscious effort to engage with existing material in a new way and to break free from traditional notions of control and functionality.

John Cage, an influential figure in 20th-century music, was known for his innovative and experimental approach to composition. "Music of Changes," composed between 1951 and 1952, is a pivotal work in Cage's oeuvre and a landmark in the development of avant-garde music. The piece is scored for solo piano and is notable for its use of chance operations, a technique that involved the use of random processes to determine elements of the music, such as pitch, duration, and dynamics.

Earle Brown, a fellow composer and contemporary of Cage, was known for his own experimental compositions and his involvement in the development of indeterminate music, which shared some conceptual ground with Cage's work. In his reflection on "Music of Changes," Brown acknowledges the broader implications of Cage's approach, suggesting that it signaled a broader shift within the arts towards a more conscious engagement with existing materials and a departure from traditional notions of control and function.

The notion of "dealing with the 'given' material" in the quote refers to Cage's departure from conventional compositional methods and his embrace of chance and indeterminacy as fundamental elements of the creative process. Cage's use of chance operations in "Music of Changes" exemplifies his commitment to liberating music from preconceived structures and allowing for the unpredictable and uncontrollable elements to shape the composition.

The reference to "liberating [the arts] from the inherited, functional concepts of control" speaks to a broader reimagining of artistic practice during the mid-20th century. Cage's work, along with that of other avant-garde artists and composers, challenged established norms and sought to push artistic expression beyond traditional boundaries. This departure from conventional control and functionality was not limited to music but was also evident in other artistic disciplines, including visual art, literature, and performance.

Cage's influence extended beyond music, as his ideas and methods resonated with artists working in diverse fields. His emphasis on embracing the unpredictable and relinquishing control resonated with broader cultural and philosophical shifts occurring during the mid-20th century, including developments in existentialism, Zen Buddhism, and the influence of chance and randomness in the arts.

In conclusion, Earle Brown's quote serves as a recognition of the significance of John Cage's "Music of Changes" within the broader context of 20th-century artistic innovation. Cage's departure from traditional control and functionality in his composition marked a pivotal moment in the reimagining of artistic practice, and his influence continues to resonate in the realms of music and beyond. The quote encapsulates the spirit of experimentation and liberation that characterized Cage's work and its impact on the arts as a whole.