Karlheinz Stockhausen: RIP

[Peregrine]

I laughed at that joke when I first heard it (in the early '80s, a decade or two after Beecham originally cracked it) and I'm sure I'll chuckle over it again, even while listening to such astounding masterworks as Gruppen, Carré and Momente. But I suppose that it's a big ask to hope that people might show a bit of respect today of all days, or that they might at least wait until Stockhausen is buried before they start rehashing tired old jokes about him.

Lighten up, FFS...

[MDL]

How charming...

Yes, I'd like to apologise to everyone for being such a potty mouth. Everyone but JdP, that is, who had it coming.

[Peregrine]

potty mouth

No worries, I've got an awful 'potty mouth' at times!

I meant no offence with the Beecham quip, sorry if it was taken that way...

[MDL]

No worries, I've got an awful 'potty mouth' at times!

I meant no offence with the Beecham quip, sorry if it was taken that way...

I was shocked and a bit upset last night. I don't normally fly off the handle like that. I'm going to delete my offending post; not because I regret it, but I know that the moderators have, in the past, taken offence at the word "turd" and it'll only be a matter of time before somebody objects to C U Next Tuesday.

[val]

I love his Gruppen. There is a good version by Abbado.

But works like Sirius or Stimmung are among the most boring (and irritating) things I ever heard.

[gomro]

Karlheinz Stockhausen has died at the age of 79.

I just ordered 5 new discs from the Verlag last week and included a brief note wishing the Maestro continued good health -- alas, it was not in the cards. (Freude, Himmelfahrt, Cosmic Pulses, Europa-Gruss etc., Sonntag-Abschied, in case you're curious.) This is a great loss for the world of music; no doubt in the Heaven Stockhausen wrote so much about, the angel Israfel, master of all music, has suddenly found himself with serious competition.

Non-Verlag releases I'd highly recommend would be:
Gruppen/Punkte conducted by Eotvos
Mantra (good recording on New Albion)
Stimmung (the new Theater of Voices recording)
Michaels Reise, solisten version (on ECM)
the disc by bassoonist Knut Sonstevold, Sonstevold plays Stockhausen: Solo, In Friendship, etc.

[greg]

Hans Werner Hanze is not quite as well known as Stockhausen, but he is still alive, though not in the best of health. Kurtág is still alive, as far as I know.

He's written 10 Symphonies, what should we expect? 

[greg]

I love his Gruppen. There is a good version by Abbado.

But works like Sirius or Stimmung are among the most boring (and irritating) things I ever heard.

lol, looks like someone has the same exact feelings towards Stockhausen as i do (and i've mentioned this before)

[Al Moritz]

I just ordered 5 new discs from the Verlag last week and included a brief note wishing the Maestro continued good health -- alas, it was not in the cards. (Freude, Himmelfahrt, Cosmic Pulses, Europa-Gruss etc., Sonntag-Abschied, in case you're curious.)

I don't know Cosmic Pulses yet, but the other four discs are excellent. Himmelfahrt (2004/05) in particular (but this may be said of other compositions on these discs too) is not just an supremely accomplished composition, but also of an originality that stands on a significantly higher level than that of almost all other contemporary compositions*) that I've heard, regardless how much I may admire them.

*) let's say, of the last 25 years

[jochanaan]

Listening to Gesang der Jünglinge as I type.  Ah, we'll all miss him--even those who scorned his music.

I had not realized that Stockhausen believed in God so strongly--although I should have "divined" it from the text he chose to set for Gesang der Jünglinge, the apocryphal Song of The Three (that is, of the three Hebrew youths in Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace--see Daniel, chapter 3).  [jochanaan steps on soapbox] It just goes to show that one can be a Christian and also a major radical artist. [/soapbox]

[greg]

Listening to Gesang der Jünglinge as I type.  Ah, we'll all miss him--even those who scorned his music.

I had not realized that Stockhausen believed in God so strongly--although I should have "divined" it from the text he chose to set for Gesang der Jünglinge, the apocryphal Song of The Three (that is, of the three Hebrew youths in Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace--see Daniel, chapter 3).  [jochanaan steps on soapbox] It just goes to show that one can be a Christian and also a major radical artist. [/soapbox]

Stockhausen... a Christian? Wait....... the guy who thinks he's from Sirus?

(i mean, the guy who is totally serial about being from Sirius, not in the same way i claim to be from Antarctica)

anyways....... what did he die from? "Old Age"? lol seriously, the article i read didn't even mention the cause..... probably just had to return to his home planet, eh?

[Kullervo]

Most obituaries don't mention cause of death.

[MDL]

I love his Gruppen. There is a good version by Abbado.

But works like Sirius or Stimmung are among the most boring (and irritating) things I ever heard.

You've got a point. Stockhausen's later works are often extremely long and rather weird, and you have to sort of surrender yourself to them. The first few times I heard Inori, it drove me mad. I still haven't fully given myself up to Stimmung or Sternklang. But I loved the loopy Sirius. And I remember listening to, and taping, the Radio 3 broadcast of Donnerstag aus Licht back in 1978/1979/1980 or whenever it was, and I was utterly spellbound for four hours or so. I recently played Inori and loved every moment of it.

For those new to Stockhausen, Gruppen, Carré, Punkte, Momente, Mikrophonie II and Trans are more immediately exciting. They are probably his masterpieces, too. But his later, longer epics are worth exploring. By the way, if you want to hear Gruppen, the DG/Verlag or DMC recordings are better than the Abbado/DG recording.

[greg]

Most obituaries don't mention cause of death.

but aren't you a bit skeptical? If no explanation is given, why shouldn't we believe that the aliens took him away?

[Dundonnell]

I absolutely loathe Stockhausen's music but any composer/artist or indeed anyone at all who dies deserves to be remembered for their contributions and achievements and their families are entitled to our sympathy.

Stockhausen was-apparently-an inspiring teacher and lecturer. He devoted his life to his art and even if I am totally unable to comprehend or to appreciate that art I am equally aware that others are more fortunate than myself.

RIP as the thread says!!

[Symphonien]

Sad news indeed, and unexpected too. I thought he was in good health, and ready for 80th birthday celebrations next year with the complete staging of Licht...

I'll have to get to know his music better; at the moment I know very little - only Gesang der Jünglinge. That ECM disc looks very good, I might have to get it.

RIP Stockhausen.

[johnQpublic]

one can be a Christian and also a major radical artist.

Yep! Wuorinen is another good example.

[Joe Barron]

Very unexpected news. I don't know Stockhausen's music well, but I was sorry for Al, because I know Stockhausen means a lot to him. He (Stockhausen) was one of those figures I always heard about, and for that reason, I assumed he'd go on forever.

I went back this weekend and listened to some early music --- Gruppen and Kontatke. Very good stuff,consistently engaging, well constructed,  full of action and interesting sonorities. I need to hear more. The later music seems different, more new age-y, if I can trust the postings here. (And of dourse I can.) I would like to explore it, though.

[MDL]

I absolutely loathe Stockhausen's music but any composer/artist or indeed anyone at all who dies deserves to be remembered for their contributions and achievements and their families are entitled to our sympathy.

Stockhausen was-apparently-an inspiring teacher and lecturer. He devoted his life to his art and even if I am totally unable to comprehend or to appreciate that art I am equally aware that others are more fortunate than myself.

RIP as the thread says!!

It is heartwarming to read a post from somebody who hates Stockhausen's music but is still generous enough to not use his death as an excuse to insult his achievements or his admirers. Thanks, Dundonnell. I hope that one day, you will be able to appreciate the wonders of Carré, Momente and Gruppen, but if you can't, don't beat yourself up about it. I can't get on with the operas of Verdi or Mozart, and although I love Salome and Elektra, Strauss's Rosenkavalier leaves me cold. We all have our blind spots. As long as we don't say "good riddance" when a respected musician dies, we can agree to differ. You're a gentleman. Josquin des Prez is an arsehole.

[Josquin des Prez]

It is heartwarming to read a post from somebody who hates Stockhausen's music but is still generous enough to not use his death as an excuse to insult his achievements or his admirers.

Ok ok perhaps lashing at Stockhausen himself was a bit tasteless from my part, though i loath almost everything he represents. That said, i am now going to attack his admirers.