music
January 19, 2026
GBSR Duo: For Philip Guston review
Kings Place, LondonAt over four hours without a break, Morton Feldman’s work dedicated to his artist friend is challenging, but in a rare live performance, the concentration of its performers made it an unforgettable experience
TL;DR
- Morton Feldman's For Philip Guston is a four-and-a-half-hour musical composition.
- The work utilizes an economical approach, transforming a short sequence of four pitches.
- It features a consistently slow tempo and quiet dynamics with complex, subtle rhythms.
- Audience reactions during a rare performance ranged from restlessness to distraction.
- Performers included Taylor MacLennan on flutes, Siwan Rhys on piano and celeste, and George Barton on vibraphone, glockenspiel, marimba, and tubular bells.
- The piece is dedicated to Feldman's friend, artist Philip Guston, after his death in 1980.
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