creative spaces

Well, maybe I’m a bit out of the loop, but before the NY Times article this weekend, I hadn’t heard about Paul Lansky’s new career direction. So many composers (myself included) had written music for acoustic instruments for years before becoming attracted to the world of electronic and computer music, and are, of course, beneficiaries of the difficult time-consuming work of pioneers in the field such as Lansky, who is now going in the other direction. He says that he is (gasp) “done.” Really? Well, here is the precise quote from the Times article:

“I hate to say this, but I think I’m done,” Mr. Lansky said. “Basically I’ve said what I’ve had to say. Here I am, 64, and I find myself at what feels like the beginning of a career. I’m interested in writing for real people at this point.”

That sounds pretty emphatic to me. But I can certainly understand it. Lansky has spent his career doing it all from punching cards to writing programs, and having control over the minute details of the resulting music. When any composer is around the greatest performers exquisitly performing great music, there is always a beckoning to be able to speak through that medium. Apparently, Paul Lansky wants to devote his career from now on to that, and who can fault him? Not even his greatest fans.