Dear colleagues,
as you might or might not have heard, the German composer Karlheinz
Stockhausen has been violently attacked in the press and needs our help. In
times of political tension some people will look for scapegoats, and it is
not the first time that avantgarde and experimental musicians have been in
the first line to serve that need. We should protest against this
meaningless assault on artistic freedom of expression.
Stockhausen was quoted for allegedly calling the terrorist attack in New
York "the greatest work of art" - whereas, according to himself and fellow
musician Kathinka Pasveer, he really said "the greatest work of art of
Lucifer" <Lucifer= the Devil>. Furthermore, this followed after a
journalist's question, whether the mythology of his new opera cycle Licht
was concerned solely with the past - Stockhausen said that it also existed
now - for instance Lucifer in the attack of New York.
I have not seen this correction challenged by anyone yet, although, judging
from the way Stockhausen's was quoted by the German radio journalist who
started this, it seems that a tape recording certainly exists or has
existed. This nonwithstanding, newspapers continue to propagate the story of
Stockhausen allegedly greeting the attack. Anyone who knows a little about
him knows this is totally out of the question. Four concerts were cancelled
recently in Hamburg, and the Kuerten Community where Stockhausen lives is
threatening to withdraw any support for his yearly courses as well as his
honorary citizenship.
Please send support letters to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx .
www.stockhausen.org is also the place where you can read more. Also, send a
copy of your letter to: Att. Lord Mayor Ulrich Iwanow, gemeinde@xxxxxxxxxx
.
For the last address which is of the Kuerten Community, you may use your own
words or this standard text: "Dear Mr. Iwanow, being convinced that the
accusations against Karlheinz Stockhausen are false and absurd, I urge you
to give him all your support. In times of political crisis, we need serious,
contemporary art more than ever. Yours sincerly <yourname>, "
And - please pass this mail on to those you know it might concern !
greetings!
Carl Bergstroem-Nielsen, DK
(composer, musician - web: http://hjem.get2net.dk/intuitive )