There are a lot of things I could write about today but, my time is not my own.
Karlheinz Stockhausen has passed away. In my opinion, Stockhausen was a brilliant composer of music. This music being what the scholars would call, “serious” music or “modern” composition. Zappa was a huge fan, Miles Davis; a long list. The point is, he should be remembered for his music. Whether you like that sort of thing or not.
I fear though, that a remark he may have made that was also taken out of context will be part of Stockhausen’s legacy. This, originating from the Press Association, is an example of the irresponsible reportage that persists even in obituary.
Stockhausen is known for his electronic compositions which are a radical departure from musical tradition and incorporate influences as varied as the visual arts, the acoustics of a particular concert hall or psychology.
In 2001 he described the September 11 attacks as “the greatest work of art one can imagine”.
Here was Stockhausen’s statement regarding the original misinterpretation and subsequent reportage.
At the press conference in Hamburg, I was asked if Michael, Eve and Lucifer were historical figures of the past and I answered that they exist now, for example Lucifer in New York. In my work, I have defined Lucifer as the cosmic spirit of rebellion, of anarchy. He uses his high degree of intelligence to destroy creation. He does not know love. After further questions about the events in America, I said that such a plan appeared to be Lucifer’s greatest work of art. Of course I used the designation “work of art” to mean the work of destruction personified in Lucifer. In the context of my other comments this was unequivocal.
Bad enough that this kind of music only garners attention when a composer of this magnitude dies, worse when the press can’t resist the opportunity to go after any degree of sensationalism.
Lucas wrote,
Stockhausen was a great musician. At a couple different times in my life his music really moved me.
The music of his which has stuck with me is his short pieces for musicbox, called Tierkreis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tierkreis_(Stockhausen)
Amazingly beautiful short pieces, packed with interesting directions and making a lot out of a bare minimum of materials.
Link | December 9th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Pribek wrote,
I will seek out the Tierkreis, Lucas. A lot of what I have listened to I think of as sound sculpture where there are few limitations on the palette. I love that approach but sometimes the most intriguing stuff comes when a composer limits the sonic resources.
Link | December 10th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Lucas wrote,
Another sound sculpture guy is Xannakis.
He started his career with an impressionistic angle towards music concrete, then ported that very abstract sound over to symphony compositions with real instruments.
Link | December 11th, 2007 at 3:43 pm