Morton Feldman

USA, 1950–1987

American composer (1926-1987) of the New York School, writing very quiet music at great length, including Rothko Chapel and string quartets lasting several hours.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Morton Feldman and 2 artists Morton Feldman influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Morton Feldman?

• John Cage — Feldman met Cage in 1950 — the friendship that founded the New York School; Cage's liberation of sound made Feldman's music possible, as he said all his life.
• Anton Webern — Feldman and Cage met leaving a Webern performance at Carnegie Hall — Webern's quiet concentration remained Feldman's declared touchstone.

Which artists did Morton Feldman influence?

• Harold Budd — Budd's avant-garde formation was in the Feldman orbit — quiet, duration and restraint learned from the New York School before he chose beauty outright.
• The United States of America — Byrd moved to New York in 1960 to study with Morton Feldman; his early Fluxus works show, in his own account, the influence of his teacher Feldman's sparse, pinpointed textures.