Hm - when you put it like that, Colin, I wonder if Member Grew might not have a point!

I particularly like the direction "with feeling"...  presumably it indicates that prior to its appearance you were supposed to play without feeling?      Exactly which feeling you then use is presumably left open to artistic interpretation...

Indeed that is precisely the sort of thing of which we were thinking. A fear is evident is it not of - is it honesty? - or of something else but of what? Perhaps other Members can say. But in any case it is a shortcoming lack or deficiency. The greatest artists are inspired vehicles and do not pose.

I'd be fascinated to know in what sense of the word "outstanding" it is used here.

Definition of a farmer: A man outstanding in his field.

I have no reason to doubt your assessment of his character. But I know nothing of the gentleman nor of his music (mea culpa, no doubt). Unfortunately, even the normally reliable Google doesn't help, which was what led me to wonder just how "outstanding" in the field of music he was/is. Hence my original question.

Thanks.

From Wiki:

"Many of his pieces give specific theatrical instructions to the performers, such as to adopt certain facial expressions while playing, to make their stage entrances in a particular way, to physically interact with other performers and so on. His work has often been compared to the theatre of the absurd.

Staatstheater (1971) is probably the piece that most clearly shows his absurdist tendency. This work is described as a "ballet for non-dancers", though in many ways is more like an opera, and the devices it used as musical instruments include chamber pots and even enema equipment."

Outstanding indeed. A worthy successor to Bach, no doubt. I must listen.

Is that another of those Schoenberg self-portraits, Ollie?