Scelsi: In His Own Words

Of all the twentieth century composers I enjoy, I find Giacinto Scelsi to be one of the most interesting. This is partly due to the fact that he is, to a certain degree, shrouded in mystery. Compared to other composers, little is known of him. He did not like to be photographed. (In this video you will see one of the few known photos of the composer.) He did not like to talk about his music. However, some things can be discovered about him and his music. In my study of him, I have found that his own statements about himself and his music are the most enlightening. They allow a glimpse into the true personality of the man and provide real insights in his music.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• atonal
• spectral
• microtone
• microtonality

[jiritube]

Who recorded this? Where can I find it?

[NewMusicXX]

The background music is Scelsi's "Konx-Om-Pax" , The recording I have (on the Accord label) is unfortunately out of print. You may be able to find it on another label however.

[NewMusicXX]

I just checked Amazon. There is a collection with Konx-Om-Pax for sale used.

[aaaBurke89]

Does this song have a title?

[NewMusicXX]

The background music is Scelsi's "Konx-Om-Pax"

[morbitek23]

Silence is the space between sounds just as space is that which is not, between two objects. In contemplating silence one reveals the sound within. An algebra of the emotion irrespective of reason, but a truth of sorts for all that. Kind of like quantum physics in which the prescience or otherwise of an observer (or listener) affects the outcome of an event.

[faroenmano]

Wow!... is all I can say.

(Wow! is a sound but "what's inside that sound is much more interesting").

[Bodycage]

@whack47 It does, because sound is pure and not shackled by 'composition', ergo it is the 'chicken' and the 'egg' in this case.

[enggopah]

Can you please tell us where these statements of Scelsi can be found? They draw me toward more of whatever else he has spoken or written. Thanks

[Herundras]

This man wrote history of music...

with music.

[lovesGenet]

mere materials more interesting than the ordered sound? Sound as essentialist . Sound as beginning and lively vibrancy. Ok .Tautologies are useless! I say use clusters to get at natural untuned sounds. all this isolation and mental stuff is how men come up with false notions like gods.I want to repeat his music.Someone not read enough .Anyway the whole world is not in a Bresson film nor is it in a sound. creativity is not stopping -it is emerging!

[Cantonaahh]

Magical! Thanks for posting this. I would like to have heard a clown juggling hedgehogs whilst his second cousin scrapes an onion on the side of a giant cigarette packet, but maybe I'm a bit hard to please.

Anyway, if you enjoy watching hamsters balancing onions, you may also enjoy a site called icrappoetry (.com). Best wishes!