Shapey: In His Own Voice

摘要

Excerpted from a transcript of interviews with Ralph Shapey, this article reveals aspects of Shapey's strong personality and of his complex relationship with his teacher Stefan Wolpe. The article touches on Shapey's principal ideas as a composer: those derived from Wolpe and the ideas of Wolpe he rejected; and his concept of the 'graven image', derived from his perception of what was most effective in 'all the old masters—Bach, Beethoven, Brahms'. More precise notation was developed to handle the rhythmic concepts that developed in the music of the 1950s. The centrality of Shapey's role as conductor of contemporary music in New York City during the late 1950s and early 1960s is made clear. Shapey also describes his approach to teaching composition, which emphasizes the integrity of abstract musical ideas.