Morton Feldman's Piano and String Quartet : Analysis, Aesthetics, and Experience of a 20th-Century Masterpiece

Morton Feldman viewed Piano and String Quartet as his capstone work—the culminating example of the aesthetic that Feldman spent his life seeking. Written in 1985, the year before Feldman’s death, this single movement, roughly 80-minute composition was heralded by Steve Reich as “the most beautiful work [of Feldman''s] I know.”

Ray Fields presents a detailed analysis of the complete piece and examines the elements that contribute to its formal and expressive design, including local and large-scale temporal architecture, pitch/interval formations, texture, timbre, and register. It discusses the aural experience of the music itself and provides insights into Feldman’s aesthetic influences. Basic biographical information is provided, describing the music of his early, middle, and late periods and providing an overview of analyses of other Feldman works. By examining this beloved piece, the book addresses the question: what was everything Feldman wanted in his music?

Also included are interviews with Kronos Quartet’s David Harrington about the origins of Piano and String Quartet and Aki Takahashi providing crucial information about the work.