I heard somewhere that the composer Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji once placed a ban on any of his music being played in public. Is this true? What would happen if some random person performed one of his pieces somewhere, didnt look for permission or anything? Just curious, thats all. Dont worry, im not going to try playing any of it myself because there is no way on this earth that I ever could. He wrote some frighteningly difficult stuff

More here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayrevie...1039848,00.html

You'll find more Sorabji-ites on Piano Street, I reckon: http://www.pianostreet.com/index.php

Sounds like a desperate attempt to get himself noticed.

Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji who?

Steve

For shame Steve - you haven't heard of the 3 1/2 hour epic "Opus Clavicembalisticum"? One of the hardest pieces ever written (if for no other reason than - how on earth do you practice it?)

Nor would he have been interested in "getting himself noticed". He was highly reclusive. Nor did he impose a formal ban on his works being performed. He did, however, say that "no performance at all is vastly preferable to an obscene travesty".

For anyone interested this website will be useful.

Edward

he also composed a piece which lasts approx 8 hours.....theres no exact time as no one has ever recorded it.

Its just a very short piece repeated many many many.........many times

I suspect he will get his wish to not have his music performed in public

This reminds me of the old joke question. "Did Haydn compose over 100 symphonies, or did he compose the same symphony over 100 times."

Steve