When I left Europe in 1987 I did so with the thought that my relevance as a composition teacher would benefit from a certain cool distance to certain tendencies I had been observing for several years with increasing disquiet.

Quote by Brian Ferneyhough

Topics: Brian Ferneyhough Quotes

I would not say that I was, these days, a 'student' of philosophy, although in...

I would not say that I was, these days, a 'student' of philosophy, although in...

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...

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.

Naturally enough, I couldn't have foreseen the vast sea change which has come upon that...

Naturally enough, I couldn't have foreseen the vast sea change which has come upon that...

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...

There would seem to be a limit, even for an art preoccupied with boundaries and...

There would seem to be a limit, even for an art preoccupied with boundaries and...

I frequently compose out the entire metric structure of a piece in modified cyclic form,...

I frequently compose out the entire metric structure of a piece in modified cyclic form,...

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 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...

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.

Sometimes one can be so closely involved with things that the larger context is lost...

Sometimes one can be so closely involved with things that the larger context is lost...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

If nothing is at risk, nothing is established.

If nothing is at risk, nothing is established.

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...

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...

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...