Karlheinz Stockhausen

Karlheinz Stockhausen died this week at 79. His legacy of musical avant-garde is decidedly mixed; one of those composers more talked about than played. Some call him Germany's greatest post-Wagner composer, some call him a sham, dated and obsolete. He supposedly influenced many important musicians since the 60's including the Beatles, Frank Zappa, the minimalists Reich and Riley, Miles Davis and John Taverner.

Early works such as "Gesang der Juenglinge" a mixed media (voices and electronics) retelling of the Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace story, "Kontakte" that combined instruments and pre-recorded sounds, and the marvelous "Klavierstuck" series for piano did find an audience and influenced a musical world hungry for new ideas. His later works dissolved into a morass of grandiose theatrics and obtuse philosophies. His magnum opus "Licht" is an opera/theatre piece lasting some 30 hours including a string quartet to be played with each quartet member hovering over the theatre in a separate helicopter. He claimed he was descended from the stars and called the 9/11 attacks "works of art", a statement he claimed was misinterpreted. He became irrelevant.

Whatever side you are on, it is a sure bet he will be talked about for a long time to come. If we ever hear a live Stockhausen performance (I heard Klavierstuck IX years ago), that will be more of a surprise.

Sir Thomas Beecham, British conductor blessed with a sharp wit,inadvertently summed up Stockhausen's legacy best. Beecham was asked whether he had played any Stockhausen. No, he said, but I believe I have trodden in some.