Feldman v. Cage

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Both wrote amazing music and are probably the two most well known composers of the New York school.

[Mirror Image]

I can't answer this question right now, but I'm sure Dr. Henning will be pick Feldman.

[springrite]

In 4:33 vs. Quartet #2 I vote for Mr. Feldman

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

In 4:33 vs. Quartet #2 I vote for Mr. Feldman

Okay Feldman will always win when put up against 4'33" for me.....but I think on the strength of Cage's other works and the huge variety of things he has composed, I have to go with Cage.

[springrite]

Hey, I love a lot of Cages work but ANYTHING wins against 4'33 

I'm not saying I'm against the concepts brought forth in 4'33 either 

Agree.

I was going for contrast...

[nathanb]

I sometimes express my tastes as a series of points plotted amongst a series of concentric circles. Feldman may reside within the inner circle, but John Cage gets to hang out right next to the nexus of tastes. You know who I speak of.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Firstly, Feldman and Cage aren't really that similar in general but they have been forever connected through association.

I think I have a more emotional connection to Feldman's music but Cage's music appears far more vast in it's variety.
Cage "experimented" in many areas (even if he was just expanding on elements of Satie, Ives, Cowell, Webern and Varese to varying degrees) and can feel like a different composer comparing his early works to his late works.

I think for influence and variety Cage is a no-brainer 

YES

And John Cage needs more votes.

Also I think there are more good composers named John (and variants) then there are named Morton but that's a different topic altogether.

[Artem]

Feldman for me, even though my appreciation of his music has been decreasing over time.

[Mandryka]

Cage. A much more imaginative and stimulating musician in my opinion. The Song Books and Four alone would put him on a summit way higher than anything Feldman did.

Feldman on the other hand suffers from musical diarrhea, the length is totally disproportionate to the idea. 

[nathanb]

Cage. A much more imaginative and stimulating musician in my opinion. The Song Books and Four alone would put him on a summit way higher than anything Feldman did.

Feldman on the other hand suffers from musical diarrhea, the length is totally disproportionate to the idea.

When one can feel comfortable enough to plainly agree that a specific composer was indeed more imaginative than Feldman... well, you know that the composer in question must be some sort of deity. Because let's face it. Feldman was still imaginative as hell.

[Monsieur Croche]

Once again, another Composer X vs. Composer Y___ thread attempting to evaluate two composers ~ each with a very different kind of staggeringly unique and great genius ~ whose aesthetics and output, one to the other, are about as different as it can get.

Cage was brilliant because he was Cage.

Feldman was brilliant because he was Feldman.

Though not utterly unique to just these two composers, they do have in common 'messing with the conventional wisdoms' re: Musical time and what constitutes a piece of music; after that, they are quite divergent.


That, and the fare, got them on the bus, lol.

[James]

Feldman for me, even though my appreciation of his music has been decreasing over time.

Either were heavy enough or more importantly musical enough for me.

[jochanaan]

Once again, another Composer X vs. Composer Y___ thread attempting to evaluate two composers ~ each with a very different kind of staggeringly unique and great genius ~ whose aesthetics and output, one to the other, are about as different as it can get.

Cage was brilliant because he was Cage.

Feldman was brilliant because he was Feldman.

Though not utterly unique to just these two composers, they do have in common 'messing with the conventional wisdoms' re: Musical time and what constitutes a piece of music; after that, they are quite divergent.


That, and the fare, got them on the bus, lol.

+1!

[Uhor]

I like the direction Feldman took as he evolved. I think Cage, after a very inventive and fruitful early period, openend his mind so much his brain fell off to the stream of conciousness.

[Mandryka]

Cage. A much more imaginative and stimulating musician in my opinion. The Song Books and Four alone would put him on a summit way higher than anything Feldman did.

Feldman on the other hand suffers from musical diarrhea, the length is totally disproportionate to the idea.

Whoever said this is absolutely correct.

[San Antone]

Once again, another Composer X vs. Composer Y___ thread attempting to evaluate two composers ~ each with a very different kind of staggeringly unique and great genius ~ whose aesthetics and output, one to the other, are about as different as it can get.

Cage was brilliant because he was Cage.

Feldman was brilliant because he was Feldman.

I agree.  I actually think this about every composer, each is sui generis and comparing any composers does not make much sense.  Celebrate each composer for their unique music and not treat music like a horse race.

[Mandryka]

I   Celebrate each composer for their unique music

Including Georg Friedrich Haas.

[vers la flamme]

I prefer Feldman but I think Cage might have been the better composer (surely the more "important", if that matters).

[coffee]

Sober, Cage.

Otherwise, Feldman

[DavidW]

Feldman, he composed some great music.