9. Morton FeldmanThree Voices For Joan La Barbara
I’m kind of in two minds about putting a Morton Feldman composition on the list because I have really enjoyed his compositions both in a concert setting and on record, but I also think that I’ve known too many boys who’ve been too into his work. He’s a huge thing for many people doing improvisation and free music. I don’t know if somebody gave me it or I just found it back in the day when lots of people downloaded things illegally, so it must have been ten years ago, maybe, I just came across it. Joan La Barbara’s a huge figure of contemporary classical music. I’ve since heard her live.
But listening to this work, I’m more of a populist nerd so I couldn’t do it any justice in terms of describing it in a compositional context, but it is very meditative to listen to and it’s very hard to be in the world and listen to it, which is why I found it very fascinating. I remember I was listening to it as I was walking around in a city I knew very well and I got lost, where I didn’t think it was possible to get lost. I was actually on my way to a Meredith Monk workshop. I mean, I could’ve put Meredith Monk on this list as well because I have listened to her a lot. So I thought to myself, "is this a sign?" The workshop was great, I still got there in time. I put it on earlier today because I haven’t listened to it in a long time and you can say it’s hard to listen to but at the same time it’s very easy, you just have to really get sucked in. It’s almost like you’re this piece of dough that these three voices that are on this recording are pulling you around. You’re this not-yet bread. Sometimes you have to listen by just dissolving your body, I think, and listening to this is one of those experiences. You just have to let go of all the bones in your body.
