With Stockhausen, you kind of have to approach what you are listening to as a very odd kind of game. There is always some thematic element at play that makes the sounds make sense on some level.
Granted, this is not always completely necessary. Take Stimmung, for example:
Knowing what spectralism and how this piece applies serial theory to the concept is not necessary to appreciate its mantric quality, or how silly or beautiful some of the vocal sounds are. It is just a cool thing to listen to on its own merits.
Comments