In 1962 Samuel Beckett (known for "En attendant Godot" (1952); Nobel Prize for literature in 1969) wrote the lyrics for the BBC production "Words and music", with music by Beckett's cousin John. The work is, as it were, a parable about the word-music relationship, in which the personified "Word" always interrupts the music, while the main character "Croak" tries to reconcile the contradictions. Both
… the author and the composer were not satisfied with the result. Only the text of this production was published. In the early 1980's, Everett C. Frost (Project Director at Soundscape Inc.) approached Samuel Beckett for an American production of "Words and music". Beckett welcomed the idea and suggested Morton Feldman as a composer. Feldman, a great admirer of Beckett, accepted the offer (in Frost's words) "with a mixture of enthusiasm and genuine, almost awkward humility. (...) It risked altering the direction of his work - a risk he would take. owing to his profound respect for Samuel Beckett. " "Words and music", one of Feldman's latest works, has been released on a CD, performed by Omar Ebrahim and Stephen Lind (speaking voices) and the Ensemble Recherche. (HJ) _ a CD was released, performed by Omar Ebrahim and Stephen Lind (speaking voices) and the Ensemble Recherche. (HJ) _ a CD was released, performed by Omar Ebrahim and Stephen Lind (speaking voices) and the Ensemble Recherche. (HJ) _more
