Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928–2007)

I've been on a Stockhausen spree lately. I've compiled a list of all the pieces I've got recordings of by him, I've been looking at some scores, I've been listening to the recordings over & over. Stockhausen died last December & w/ him goes one of the last of the composers that were so important to me in my youth: Cage, Messian, Feldman, Xenakis.. & now Stockhausen. I'm listening to his "Kontakte" (the version that includes intrumentalists) as I write this. I have 3 Stockhausen bks - I definitely read this one & I definitely read one of the other 2 but I'm not sure wch one so I'll be taking an educated guess.

Stockhausen definitely took a few knocks in his life - his mom was in an insane asylum & was one of the 1st people executed by the nazis in their "racial cleansing". His dad was a nazi. As a friend of mine sd: "Sounds conflicted!". Even as an old man, he had trouble getting his massive wk-long opera performed - at one point the Italian musicians revolted in typical union style against the long hrs of rehearsal required. Stockhausen incorporated the revolt into the opera. Henry Flynt protested Stockhausen's "Originale" when it was performed in NYC - but then Flynt's a musical retard in contrast to Stockhausen. So, to hell w/ you Henry! Stockhausen's former assistant, Cornelius Cardew, wrote a whole bk denouncing him called "Stockhausen Serves Imperialism".

For that matter, even I've had criticisms of the guy: his rejection of master trombonist Vinko Globokar's claim of co-authorship in the structured improvisations "From the 7 Days". Stockhausen's having fasted for 7 days while he wrote those pieces b/c he was upset over artist wife's Mary Bauermeister leaving him doesn't impress me much either..
I've fasted for 28 days so// whatever! BUT THE MUSIC, the music.. It's absolutely wunderbar. So, forget the rest, Stockhausen, I miss you already.… (mehr)