FOR PHILIP GUSTON BY MORTON FELDMAN: REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCE – OR HOW TO SURVIVE FOUR HOURS OF MUSIC

Abstract

This article focuses on the work “For Philip Guston” by American composer Morton Feldman, a four-hour piece which I performed in concert with percussionist Steven Schick and flutist Kathleen Gallagher. I discuss here some of the challenges that we faced, and my reflections on the strategies we used during rehearsals and on the experience of performing it. This paper relates the practical experience of rehearsals and performance of a unique 20th Century chamber piece, although the strategies discussed here can be applied to other contemporary works with similar challenges.
Keywords: Performance; Morton Feldman; Philip Guston; Contemporary music; American composers.