The avant garde composer and pioneer of electronic music, Karlheinz Stockhausen, is at the centre of controversy over a remark he is alleged to have made about the attacks on New York and Washington.
Q: What did he say?
A: According to a journalist attending a press conference to promote the Hamburg Music Festival, Stockhausen described the destruction of the World Trade Centre as ''a great work of art''. The report caused outrage but Stockhausen disputes it.
Q: What really happened?
A: Stockhausen has composed pieces about Eve, Lucifer, and Michael (the archangel who cast the devil out of Paradise) and was asked if these biblical figures existed today. He said they did. Lucifer, the spirit of anarchy who uses his intelligence to destroy creation and does not know love, was clearly in New York, he said.
Q: Seems fair?
A: Yes. In response to further questioning, Stockhausen said the terrorist plan that unfolded in New York appeared to
be Lucifer's greatest
work of art. But when he was misreported he apologised. He said: ''I will continue to keep the victims of this outrage in my prayers.''
Q: Was that the end of the matter?
A: No. The organisers of the Hamburg festival have cancelled their scheduled Stockhausen concerts but the performances at the Barbican will go ahead
next month.
Q: Oh?
A: John Tusa, the Barbican director, said that, even if Stockhausen had been accurately quoted, the artist and his or her views should be kept apart from the work. If ticketholders decided they no longer wanted to see the concerts they should have the right to choose not to go, he said.
Q: How popular is Stockhausen?
A: In May he won the Polar Music Prize, which was instigated in 1989 by the late Stig Anderson, publisher, lyricist, and manager of Abba. Stockhausen, who is 73 and has been composing for more than 50 years, shared this year's award with Burt Bacharach, the songwriting legend, and Robert Moog, inventor of the moog synthesiser (both American).
Q: An eclectic group, eh?
A: Yes. Previous winners of the prize, which is presented by King Carl Gustav of Sweden, include Sir Paul McCartney, Quincy Jones, Sir Elton John, Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, and Pierre Boulez. Commenting after this year's awards, President George W Bush said the prize was ''a symbol of true musical excellence and accomplishment''.
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