To those who draw false conclusions from this tape: Feldman actually was one of the most witty people I ever met. (Even from a Hegelian point of view as Heinz Klaus Metzger, who adored Feldman, would have told you). It is important to realise that at that point he was very tired of quick wise-cracking as demonstrated by the interviewer who constantly interrupts him. He hated stereotypes and kept reflecting on art from all sorts of angles. Later it would even include nomadic rugs which he studied in-depth. Frequently he mentioned the heated discussions with his teacher Stefan Wolpe earlier in his life. Conversations with Rothko or Guston certainly introduced a degree of hesitancy, of questioning a standardised 'academic' discourse. That's also what he made responsible for the decline of Boulez and Stockhausen who were stuck in those schemes.
It gets interesting by the 38-minute mark when Feldman starts talking about his composition process. I do think it could have been better with a less pedantic interviewer, genuinely interested in listening to the composers' ideas. The name-dropping was excessive and the guy focused too much on promoting some sort of hyper-intellectual spectacle.
I think Feldman comes across as reasonably humorous here, and I have no idea why commenters are so critical of the interviewer. It seems to me he knows his subject and engages Feldman quite effectively.
There is 6 hours of John Cage and Morton Feldman talking on KPFK I think. Look for it, very good. John Cage makes a lot of sense. And is very solid and down to earth.
Hah, wow, when he starts talking he sounds completely different than I imagined his voice. He sounds confident, open and sort of a bit streetwise or something even. I have listened to his music a lot especially for Bunita Marcus and I would have imagined him sort of shy or recluse, introvert or whatever. I guess I'm just projecting things from myself on to hs music and assuming that his him. Maybe if you would have met Beethoven he talked like Robin Williams. :-)
I think it might be the New York accent that makes him sound streetwise and brash. But anyway, Feldman didn't have much to say about theories...he himself always said, in effect "Just write down the notes!" That's why Cage was so astonished with the fact that Feldman didn't know "how" he wrote a given piece.
the interviewer for all his brilliance and competence does not listen to Feldman closely enough to deepen ideas other than his own, most of the time, not all the time
That's because the interviewer always jumps in with a hash-up of stereotypes. I knew Feldman and listened to him for hours and hours on end talking. At one point in 1984 he talked for a week with very little interruptions. He might have been the most eloquent person I ever met, including my mother.
Why not? In any event, Feldman had an out-sized ego and an over-blown estimation of his “talents”. In every interview of him I’ve read/heard, he comes across as a snotty jerk. Post-1967, he wrote a few interesting pieces - Rothko Chapel, The Viola in My Life, for example - but the longer pieces are mostly a waste of time (I sat through the world premiere of the complete version of the 2nd string quartet and sat through it again 2 years later, still hate the piece). By the way, what had Feldman written as of 1967 to warrant the attention he was getting then?
@@eai554 Because he was a professional composer in lifetime and his music is still a cultural point of reference within modern music and in other arts as well. Whether you or I like it is another matter. I wouldn't call Max Richter anything but professional even though I don't care that much for his music. Personally, I've had profound experiences with Feldmans hour long string quartet. I don't know about his personality and would prefer not to regard his music though that anyway. From the few interviews I've heard, he seems witty and smart although maybe a bit self important.
Not smart. A pretentious name-dropper. I believe that he was aware of and defensive about his overall lack of formal education. He read a few things, and faked it. His comments about certain composers are off-putting, to say the least. He managed a few good pieces, very nice, give him credit for that. But overall a mediocre musical presence.
@davidherz9968 is it Philistine to ask of music that it exhibit something structural of interest, and for it not to be impoverished? The composer himself said or admitted not being a composer at all, that he was just an orchestrator. Quite accurate! There was nothing there to suggest it had been composed. :-)
The interviewer is the late, great Charles Shere, composer, arts critic, and at that time music director at KPFA in Berkeley.
You can hear Morton light up a cigarette every 7 min.
Wow, thanks. Wish there would be video interviews, but this is a wonderful substitute.
To those who draw false conclusions from this tape:
Feldman actually was one of the most witty people I ever met. (Even from a Hegelian point of view as Heinz Klaus Metzger, who adored Feldman, would have told you). It is important to realise that at that point he was very tired of quick wise-cracking as demonstrated by the interviewer who constantly interrupts him. He hated stereotypes and kept reflecting on art from all sorts of angles. Later it would even include nomadic rugs which he studied in-depth. Frequently he mentioned the heated discussions with his teacher Stefan Wolpe earlier in his life. Conversations with Rothko or Guston certainly introduced a degree of hesitancy, of questioning a standardised 'academic' discourse. That's also what he made responsible for the decline of Boulez and Stockhausen who were stuck in those schemes.
hello, where can we find the conversations with Rothko or Guston please ?
It gets interesting by the 38-minute mark when Feldman starts talking about his composition process. I do think it could have been better with a less pedantic interviewer, genuinely interested in listening to the composers' ideas. The name-dropping was excessive and the guy focused too much on promoting some sort of hyper-intellectual spectacle.
Besutifully interesting
May I contact you to furthering some questions about him as I am studying his persona in order to make some art studies for university?
I think Feldman comes across as reasonably humorous here, and I have no idea why commenters are so critical of the interviewer. It seems to me he knows his subject and engages Feldman quite effectively.
"Music is always going to have a great past."
The interviewer sounds like Neil Peart. I know it's not lol.
Great interview!
'The thread creates a veil between you and the sound ..... '
"...so is there a little bit of Hegel left in every body who begins?" fecking brilliant.
Great video
Morton so funny
what a crazy vague midnight conversation
Among the best thinkers and composers of the 20th C.
thank you so much !
There is 6 hours of John Cage and Morton Feldman talking on KPFK I think. Look for it, very good. John Cage makes a lot of sense. And is very solid and down to earth.
Escuchando esta entrevista mientras suena de fondo su Piano y cuarteto de cuerdas (1985).
Hah, wow, when he starts talking he sounds completely different than I imagined his voice. He sounds confident, open and sort of a bit streetwise or something even. I have listened to his music a lot especially for Bunita Marcus and I would have imagined him sort of shy or recluse, introvert or whatever. I guess I'm just projecting things from myself on to hs music and assuming that his him. Maybe if you would have met Beethoven he talked like Robin Williams. :-)
+Del Berry (delberry) He sounds like a pretentious douche to me.
Oh you're projecting things from yourself onto his voice, interesting.
I think it might be the New York accent that makes him sound streetwise and brash. But anyway, Feldman didn't have much to say about theories...he himself always said, in effect "Just write down the notes!" That's why Cage was so astonished with the fact that Feldman didn't know "how" he wrote a given piece.
Where did you read that?
it's in the beginning of the interview. It's also in the liner notes of his first record.
"You see, the reason my music is limitated is because I don't believe in Hegel" - Morton Feldman
ok, sir, you sold me. now I am obligated to listen to this whole thing with complete attention. bravo.
Hahahaha
"the electric guitar....i think it's the vibraphone of the future" 😄
thank you
awesome
Is there any more to this?
Do you know where I can purchase an MP3 copy of this recording?
why is this so good?
it's not
bleedinggums roberts because they're intelligent people, and they're passionate about music.
Thanks so much for sharing this. Who is the interviewer, and what is the venue?
However UA-cam transcribed this, it comes out as total idiocy. They should hire someone familiar with the material to get it right.
the interviewer for all his brilliance and competence does not listen to Feldman closely enough to deepen ideas other than his own, most of the time, not all the time
17:53
The interviewer is very good. Who is it?
shere nonsense
43:20
This interviewer is totally out of his element.
The 'ciggies' ruined Morton's health, just as they do everyone else's.
Everyone knows someone whose life was cut short by smoking.
yes pancreatic cancer not unrelated but that's his life
What a difficult person to interview. He barely speaks and doesn’t go to much extent to further explain his answers.
That's because the interviewer always jumps in with a hash-up of stereotypes. I knew Feldman and listened to him for hours and hours on end talking. At one point in 1984 he talked for a week with very little interruptions. He might have been the most eloquent person I ever met, including my mother.
Always far too impressed with himself. Amateur, and a real jerk at times.
Any composer whose music still finds a new generation 34 years after his/her passing, is not an amateur.
Why not? In any event, Feldman had an out-sized ego and an over-blown estimation of his “talents”. In every interview of him I’ve read/heard, he comes across as a snotty jerk. Post-1967, he wrote a few interesting pieces - Rothko Chapel, The Viola in My Life, for example - but the longer pieces are mostly a waste of time (I sat through the world premiere of the complete version of the 2nd string quartet and sat through it again 2 years later, still hate the piece). By the way, what had Feldman written as of 1967 to warrant the attention he was getting then?
@@eai554 Because he was a professional composer in lifetime and his music is still a cultural point of reference within modern music and in other arts as well. Whether you or I like it is another matter. I wouldn't call Max Richter anything but professional even though I don't care that much for his music.
Personally, I've had profound experiences with Feldmans hour long string quartet. I don't know about his personality and would prefer not to regard his music though that anyway. From the few interviews I've heard, he seems witty and smart although maybe a bit self important.
Not smart. A pretentious name-dropper. I believe that he was aware of and defensive about his overall lack of formal education. He read a few things, and faked it. His comments about certain composers are off-putting, to say the least. He managed a few good pieces, very nice, give him credit for that. But overall a mediocre musical presence.
@@eai554 I disagree. :)
Wanna know why his music is slow, even dim-witted?
Cause that’s who he was, how his mind worked. Just listen-it all becomes quite clear.
I knew M. Feldman and he did not at all match your description. You are missing something.
Wow, another dim wit online! If I had a dime for every pseudo-intellectual moron commenting online...well, I'd be living
in my estate in the Bahamas.
@@danyelnicholas I meant the guy above you! What a stupid comment. How is Feldman's music dim-witted?
could you define 'dim witted music' other than coming from a sort of philistine perspective?
@davidherz9968 is it Philistine to ask of music that it exhibit something structural of interest, and for it not to be impoverished? The composer himself said or admitted not being a composer at all, that he was just an orchestrator. Quite accurate! There was nothing there to suggest it had been composed. :-)