To say about an artist that you “either love them or hate them” is a cliché. Talking about Brian Ferneyhough requires more precision. The absolute mastery of his work is unquestionable. So rather than loving or hating the music, you either worship it or reject its premise absolutely. It’s difficult to talk to a composer for any length of time without becoming aware of where they stand on Ferneyhough. Like all talk about music, what sometimes gets lost in the discussion is the pure effect of the music itself.
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