An excerpt from Morton Feldman’s Darmstadt lecture, held at the 33rd International Summer Courses for New Music in Darmstadt on 24th July 1986. More on Morton Feldman: www.universaled...
Yes, I had been there. But I can't recall much. In fact, I was so concentrated to listen to his voice that I didn't listen to his words. And I recall that I was very surprised when I first saw him. Because, I had listened to his music before, and I had imagined a very slim and tall person. It's too sad we can't have more of this lecture. I'd love to "reload" it.
lol I came here because I read a quote where he said, of his own String Quartet No. 1, “It’s a fucking masterpiece.” And I couldn’t imagine his voice, saying that. Then I realized I had no idea what he sounded like at all, after listening to his music for so long. I don’t know what I expected him to sound like, but I’m still surprised.
I wanted it to last longer. The content is different but the way he ruminates / presents himself in a lecture reminds me of his friend Harrison Birtwistle.
Ultimately what they say doesn't matter. It's all in the music. Also, what he was doing in 86 was vastly diff than in 67. He rejected all that, you can completely hear it in the music, but I bet his thoughts were pretty much the same.
Sekar Kuno One is able to recognize they cannot describe someting just as much as one can use language to describe how they are unable to describe something, ergo to give it a description, they describe it as indescribable.
Thanks Ragy. I appreciate the genuineness and certainty in your comments. Striving for an approach where one can consider art seriously and not seriously seems prudent enough. True greatness humbles. True greatness is immune to irreverence. Etc.
We Jews are proud that we have converted the 20th century to post-tonal music thanks to Schoenberg, Berg and Feldman. Imagine, centuries of european musical tradition experiencing a holocaust thru atonality and serialism. Modern music is the greatest Jewish contribution to humanity.
