Composer

:

Morton Feldman

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Open Form

Compose Date

:

1960

Average_duration

:

5:47

Durations 2 is a composition by Morton Feldman, an American composer known for his experimental and avant-garde approach to music. The piece was composed in 1960 and premiered on May 17, 1961, at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Durations 2 is a single-movement work that lasts approximately 40 minutes. The piece is scored for a small ensemble of six instruments: flute, trumpet, piano, violin, cello, and percussion. The instrumentation is similar to that of Feldman's earlier work, Durations 1, but the composition itself is more complex and developed. The piece is characterized by its use of long, sustained tones and silences, as well as its unconventional approach to rhythm and form. Feldman was interested in exploring the concept of time in music, and Durations 2 reflects this interest through its use of extended durations and unpredictable changes in tempo and meter. The composition is divided into several sections, each of which features a different combination of instruments and explores a different musical idea. The sections are connected by transitional passages that feature overlapping rhythms and textures. One of the most striking features of Durations 2 is its use of silence. Feldman was known for his interest in the "sound of silence," and this piece features several extended periods of silence that are as important to the composition as the sounds themselves. Overall, Durations 2 is a challenging and thought-provoking work that reflects Feldman's unique approach to music. Its use of unconventional rhythms, extended durations, and silences make it a landmark composition in the history of experimental music.

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