Morton Feldman

Writings about the music of American composer Morton Feldman (1926-1987)

For Bunita Marcus 4: Pages 14-15

Morton Feldman

In my last post, I noted the way that these first pages of For Bunita Marcus contain such a diversity of music. With page 14, Feldman begins recycling patterns and music from earlier in the piece.

For Bunita Marcus 3: Pages 11-13

Morton Feldman

The next several pages of Feldman’s “For Bunita Marcus” is more unsettled, moving forward and backward in time and changing imagery and focus more frequently. I’ll start with a description of the next three pages, which feel like a unit to me.

For Bunita Marcus 2: Pages 8-10

Morton Feldman

After I learned the first seven pages of For Bunita Marcus, I allowed myself to continue to the next chunk of music, where Feldman plays with a single pattern for four minutes.

For Bunita Marcus 1

Morton Feldman

I’ve started learning another late Feldman solo piano work: For Bunita Marcus. This is the first of a many-part account of my progress.

Palais de mari: continuity and articulation

Morton Feldman

I’ve taken a break from Feldman’s “Palais de mari” for awhile, but am playing it again more and starting to think about how this piece works: how does Feldman make the continuity? Let me begin with something very basic: the articulation of events within the piece.

Palais de mari: Breathing

Morton Feldman

There is a particular two-chord pattern that develops towards the end of Palais de mari that caught my attention early on. It reminded me of conscious breathing.

Beginning Palais de mari

Morton Feldman

I’ve started working on Morton Feldman’s Palais de mari, and I plan to do a number of posts on this piece as it sinks in. And I’ll start at the beginning, writing about the nature of opening ideas in late Feldman.