Karlheinz Stockhausen, "Klavierstück X"

-- Liner Notes (Continued) --

10. Klavierstück X [22'15"]

Things "with a will of their own" (one of many): During the recording of the eleventh Klavierstück on July 15, Kontarsky's every movement caused the stool to creak on the wooden floor. First, the recording was stopped and restarted several times; then pieces of rubber were put under the stool legs; finally, different sorts of mat were procured and put under the stool. Recording started again. Stopped again several times. The stool was taken apart and put back together. Recorded. Again interrupted. Other stools tried: same result. Finally, after about one and a half hours of fruitless effort, a wooden organ bench was found upon which Kontarsky played the rest of the recordings undisturbed. As he started recording again, Kontarsky called through the microphone, "My heartfelt thanks, many thanks, thank you, I'll never forget you! You know, you have to be able to move around for this piece. Thanks, many thanks...fantastic, thank you, gentlemen, thank you!" Kolbe answered over the loud speaker, "But now people listening to the record won't know when you've shifted your center of gravity, Mr. Kontarsky!"