Morton Feldman viewedPiano and String Quartetas his capstone workthe culminating example of the aesthetic that Feldman spent his life seeking. Written in 1985, the year before Feldmans death, this single movement, roughly eighty-minute composition was heralded by Steve Reich as the most beautiful work [of Feldmans] I know.

Ray Fields presents a detailed analysis of the complete piece and examines the elements that contribute to its formal and expressive design. He discusses the sonic experience of the music itself and provides insights into Feldmans aesthetic influences. The book also includes basic biographical information about Feldman; descriptions of the music of his early, middle, and late periods; and an overview of analyses of other Feldman works.

In examining this beloved piece, the book addresses the question: what was everything Feldman wanted in his music? Also included are interviews with Kronos Quartets David Harrington about the origins ofPiano and String Quartetand crucial information from pianist Aki Takahashi about performing the work.

RAY FIELDSis a composer, analyst, and researcher. His works are performed at festivals, conferences, sacred settings, public spaces, and online. His preparation for analyzing Morton FeldmansPiano and String Quartetincluded three weeks of study at the Feldman Archive of the Paul Sacher Stiftung in Basel, Switzerland.

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Analytical Approach

Chapter 3: Large-scale Structure ofPiano and String Quartet

Chapter 4: Analysis of Part A

Chapter 5: Analysis of Part B

Chapter 6: Analysis of Part C

Chapter 7: Conclusion The Sonic Experience ofPiano and String Quartet

Appendix A: Key for locating measures in the score ofPiano and String Quartet

Appendix B: Letter from Morton Feldman to Aki Takahashi aboutPiano and String Quartet

Appendix C: Selected Bibliography of Analytical Studies of the Music of Morton Feldman

Appendix D: Interview with David Harrington

Appendix E: Page from Morton Feldman's Sketches forPiano and String Quartet

Selected Bibliography

Index