Morton Feldman Interviewed by Charles Shere, July, 1967.

This wide ranging literate, and always fascinating conversation between composer Morton Feldman and writer/composer/journalist (and former KPFA music director) Charles Shere touches on the work of various composers, performers, artists, and writers. Feldman talks about ways of composing, including his own, and to what degree a composer is "on the make" with regard to his audience.

The composers Feldman and Shere discussion includes John Cage, Christian Wolff, Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Olivier Messiaen, Pierre Boulez, Luciano Berio, and Milton Babbitt. Surprisingly, Feldman admits to admiring Babbitt, and wishes that he himself could write serialized music like Babbitt, freehand.

Is it true that music will always have a great past, but never a great future? And is Feldman's music limited because, as he says, he doesn't believe in Hegel?

This wonderful and historic conversation was recorded in July 1967 at KPFA in Berkeley, and the first voice you hear is that of Charles Shere.

Thanks to the Estate of Morton Feldman for permission to share this historic interview. All Rights Reserved.

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