Why was the piece "Four Minutes Thirty-Three Seconds" controversial? John Cage told the audience that the music came from the gods. It was the first time music was used as entertainment. John Cage did not copyright the piece. The musician did not play anything for four minutes and thirty-three seconds.

The musician did not play anything for four minutes and thirty-three seconds.

Explanation:

4′33″ is John Cage's legendary silent piece, known for being composed to be played with any instrument. It has three movements in complete silence, no music, no lyrics, and it lasts four minutes and thirty-three seconds.

David Tudor premiered the piece in 1952, marking the beginning and the end of each movement by opening and closing the keyboard lid of the piano. The piece was meant to show how even silence is made of many accidental sounds for those who are willing to hear them. However, it was controversial because many people didn´t understand it and some even walked before the performance ended.