Morton Feldman – Rothko Chapel / For Frank O'Hara (50th Anniversary Vinyl, Real Gone Musioc)

The American composer Morton Feldman was a master at creating calm, expansive soundscapes. This album contains two of his most profound and personal works. "Rothko Chapel" was written for the opening of the Houston chapel of the same name, a non-denominational space filled with the dark, meditative paintings of Mark Rothko. Feldman translates the visual stillness and spiritual gravity of the art into a haunting musical experience. The poignant "For Frank O'Hara" is a tribute to his good friend, the poet who died suddenly. Musically, this work belongs to modern classical music, with strong influences from minimalism and ambient. Feldman's compositions are characterized by an extreme focus on dynamics, timbre and the space between the notes, resulting in an intense and concentrated listening experience. His style is inextricably linked to the New York School, a group of avant-garde artists that included the composer John Cage.