Suppose that, for the rest of your life, you could listen to only one piece of music. What would you choose? For me it might be this.
Morton Feldman (1926-1987; MCOTD Hall of Fame), Piano and String Quartet (1985); Kronos Quartet with Aki Takahashi (piano), 1993
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lagniappe
art beat: other day, Art Institute of Chicago
Jackson Pollock (1912-1956), Number 17A, 1948 (detail)
Why not begin the week with one of the most beautiful—and moving—pieces I know?
Morton Feldman (1927-1986, MCOTD Hall of Fame), Rothko Chapel (1971); Markus Creed (cond.), SWR Vokalensemble (Vocal Ensemble), et al., live, Germany (Cathedral of Speyer, Schwetzinger), 2017
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lagniappe
art beat: yesterday, Art Institute of Chicago
Mark Rothko (1903-1970), No. 2 (Blue, Red and Green) (Yellow, Red, Blue on Blue), 1953 (detail)
alone
Morton Feldman (1926-1987, MCOTD Hall of Fame), Triadic Memories (1981); Louis Goldstein (piano), 2000
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
This I could listen to all day.
Morton Feldman (1926-1987, MCOTD Hall of Fame), For Philip Guston (1984); S.E.M. Ensemble, 2000
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lagniappe
random sights
a while ago, Oak Park, Ill.
like nobody else
Morton Feldman (1926-1987, MCOTD Hall of Fame), Palais de Mari (1986); Igor Levit (piano), 9/10/20
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Columbus Park)
sounds in the dark
Morton Feldman (1926-1987, MCOTD Hall of Fame), Clarinet and String Quartet (1983); KOAN Quartet and Katie Porter (clarinet), live, Los Angeles, 2/15/20
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago
*****
reading table
In the beggar’s tin
a few thin copper coins
and this evening rain—Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827), translated from Japanese by Sam Hamill
alone
Morton Feldman (1926-1987, MCOTD Hall of Fame), Palais de Mari (1986); Sarah Rothenberg, live (performance begins at 3:23), 3/30/20
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
Why not begin the week with something quiet?
Morton Feldman (1926-1987, MCOTD Hall of Fame), Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello (1987); Aleck Karis (piano), Curtis Macomber (violin), Danielle Farina (viola), Christopher Finckel (cello), 2015
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago (Columbus Park)
*****
reading table
How reluctantly
the bee emerges from deep
within the peony—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by Sam Hamill
MCOTD Hall of Fame
Morton Feldman (1927-1986, MCOTD Hall of Fame), Rothko Chapel (1971); Markus Creed (cond.), SWR Vokalensemble (Vocal Ensemble), et al., live, Germany (Cathedral of Speyer, Schwetzinger), 2017
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lagniappe
art beat: other day, Museum of Modern Art, New York
Henri Matisse (1869-1954), The Red Studio (1911), detail
*****
reading table
Coolness—
the sound of the bell
as it leaves the bell.—Yosa Buson (1716-1784), translated from Japanese by Robert Hass
string quartet festival
day one
A couple years ago I heard the Chicago-based Spektral Quartet play this piece at the Museum of Contemporary Art—one of the most memorable musical experiences of my life.
Morton Feldman (1926-1987, MCOTD Hall of Fame), String Quartet No. 2 (1983); FLUX Quartet, live, London (The Tanks at Tate Modern), 2016
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lagniappe
reading table
Who has not found the Heaven – below –
Will fail of it above –
For Angels rent the House next ours,
Wherever we remove –—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), 1609 (Franklin)
