Program 855: Morton Feldman: A Centennial Tribute
KALW Broadcast Date: January 4, 2026 | Host: Ed Herrmann
A true original, Morton Feldman (1926–1987) abandoned systematic approaches to composition in favor of his intuition, working from one sound to the next, usually quiet, and often for very long durations. He was a pioneer in graphic scores, but later in his career returned to conventional notation. This program includes early works such as Intermissions and Durations, as well as selections from his late masterpieces, Clarinet and String Quartet, Crippled Symmetry, Rothko Chapel, and the sublime Piano and String Quartet. We’ll also hear Feldman’s voice in Charles Amirkhanian’s Loudspeakers.
Program Audio
30-Second Spot
Track Info & Links
Title: Two Intermissions, Extensions 3
Composer: Morton Feldman
Performer: Aki Takahashi
Recording Title: Aki Takahashi plays Morton Feldman
Record Label: mode
Catalog Number: mode 54
Title: Durations I, Durations IV, Durations V
Composer: Morton Feldman
Performer: Ensemble Avantgarde
Recording Title: Morton Feldman Durations I-V, Coptic Light
Record Label: cpo
Catalog Number: 999 189-2
Title: Crippled Symmetry, Region 3
Composer: Morton Feldman
Performer: California EAR Unit
Recording Title: Morton Feldman Crippled Symmetry
Record Label: Bridge
Catalog Number: 9092 A/B
Title: Loudspeakers (for Morton Feldman)
Composer: Charles Amirkhanian
Performer: N/A
Recording Title: Charles Amirkhanian Loudspeakers
Record Label: New World Records
Catalog Number: 80817-2
Title: Clarinet and String Quartet (parts 2, 3)
Composer: Morton Feldman
Performers: Phoenix Ensemble, Mark Lieb
Recording Title: Clarinet Quintets
Record Label: Innova
Catalog Number: 746
Title: Rothko Chapel
Composer: Morton Feldman
Performers: UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus, David Abel, Karen Rosenak, William Winant
Recording Title: Morton Feldman Rothko Chapel, Why Patterns?
Record Label: New Albion
Catalog Number: NA039CD
Title: Piano and String Quartet
Composer: Morton Feldman
Performers: Aki Takahashi, Kronos Quartet
Recording Title: Morton Feldman Piano and String Quartet
Record Label: Nonesuch
Catalog Number: 9 79320-2
