The Western musical canon came about not merely by accumulation, but by opposition and subversion, both to the ruling powers on whom composers depended for their livelihoods and to other musics.

Quote by Brian Ferneyhough

Topics: Brian Ferneyhough Quotes

The past nine years in San Diego have represented such a period of questioning.

The past nine years in San Diego have represented such a period of questioning.

In my own recent String Trio I attempt to superimpose two quite different sets of...

In my own recent String Trio I attempt to superimpose two quite different sets of...

I suppose that the scope and implications of such forces have rendered my personal accounting...

I suppose that the scope and implications of such forces have rendered my personal accounting...

Hence my obstinate emphasis on stylistic continuity from work to work rather than specific sibling...

Hence my obstinate emphasis on stylistic continuity from work to work rather than specific sibling...

Other composers have taken this particular technique much further than I in the meantime, with...

Other composers have taken this particular technique much further than I in the meantime, with...

I am certainly not arguing for the de facto autonomy of the individual work, even...

I am certainly not arguing for the de facto autonomy of the individual work, even...

This was possible only by dint of extended periods of frequently quite painful reflection and...

This was possible only by dint of extended periods of frequently quite painful reflection and...

I don't see 'lines of force' as being destructive, except to the extent that they...

I don't see 'lines of force' as being destructive, except to the extent that they...

The idea of 'machine assemblage' is, especially, very alien to my sensibility, since it suggests...

The idea of 'machine assemblage' is, especially, very alien to my sensibility, since it suggests...

What makes a specific quality or quantity of innovation retain its intense newness over the...

What makes a specific quality or quantity of innovation retain its intense newness over the...

Why, in such a case, should the performer essay any sort of considered approach at...

Why, in such a case, should the performer essay any sort of considered approach at...

Actually, most things I say in public lead more or less directly to my own...

Actually, most things I say in public lead more or less directly to my own...

As a necessary prerequisite to the creation of new forms of expression one might, I...

As a necessary prerequisite to the creation of new forms of expression one might, I...

When I speak of cycles, I am referring to lengthy intervals of relative homogeneity, if...

When I speak of cycles, I am referring to lengthy intervals of relative homogeneity, if...

In my model, important interference phenomena arise when individual strata come into contact. These chaotic...

In my model, important interference phenomena arise when individual strata come into contact. These chaotic...

I'm perplexed, though, by your application of the term 'negative' to my figural imagery.

I'm perplexed, though, by your application of the term 'negative' to my figural imagery.

If nothing is at risk, nothing is established.

If nothing is at risk, nothing is established.

My own position is, that it is largely up to the work itself to suggest...

My own position is, that it is largely up to the work itself to suggest...

By reason of weird translation, many such sets of instructions read like poems anyhow.

By reason of weird translation, many such sets of instructions read like poems anyhow.

Questioning the nature and implications of liminal instances necessarily involves failure, if only in the...

Questioning the nature and implications of liminal instances necessarily involves failure, if only in the...