John Cage on Computers

From John Cage, edited by Richard Kostalanete

Computers are bringing about a situation that’s like the invention of harmony. Subroutines are like chords. No one would think of keeping a chord to himself. You’d give it to anyone who wanted it. You’d welcome alterations of it. Subroutines are altered by a single punch**. We’re getting music made by man himself, not just one man.

John Cage, in a reading ( 1969 )

**Referring to how computer code was input on punch cards