Is it possible that there was someone who did not find his place in our so very germfree musical world, who slipped through the ridiculous network of big talk and business deal? … I neither can nor wish to supply an answer, but I must admit that I am thoroughly ashamed. There was a poor little violist up there in Stockholm who was spewing forth symphony after symphony, and it was not until four years ago that I had even heard his name.
Conductor Gerd Albrecht, quoted in the liner notes for Allan Pettersson’s 7th Symphony.
Leaving the great Swedish symphonist aside for the moment - but marking that Keith Jarrett does know his name - these pages are an attempt to draw attention to some of the unappreciated - or under-appreciated - musicians and other artists (some of whom may indeed be geniuses) who have ‘slipped through the ridiculous network of big talk and business deals’. Some may be included - Jackson Pollock for instance - who have achieved a degree of fame, but who I feel especially close to artistically, sometimes, as with Allan Pettersson, where there is no obvious connection between their artistic world and my own.
Graham Collier, Greece, May 2010.
Some Choices
in jazz
Harry Beckett
Strange Meeting, Paul Grabowsky and the Australian Art Orchestra
Some young musicians whose work I admire
Henry Threadgill
in classical
Thomas Adès’ Asyla
Allan Pettersson’s Symphonies
in artists
T.J.Clark The Sight of Death: An Experiment in Art Writing
Clement Greenberg
in prose and poetry
Conrad Aiken
David Markson, A brief tribute on his passing.
in places and people
Venice and Pollock
The Galapagos Islands
Those without whom...