to be fair

From our "favorite" microtonal composer, Karlheinz Stockhausen's
current website:

Professor Karlheinz Stockhausen
51515 Kürten
GERMANY

Message from Professor Karlheinz Stockhausen

After returning from Hamburg I find false, defamatory reports in the
press.

I am as dismayed as everyone else about the attacks in America.

At the press conference in Hamburg, I was asked if MICHAEL, EVE and
LUCIFER were historical figures of the past and I answered that they
exist now, for example Lucifer in New York.

In my work, I have defined Lucifer as the cosmic spirit of rebellion,
of anarchy. He uses his high degree of intelligence to destroy
creation. He does not know love.

After further questions about the events in America, I said that such
a plan appeared to be Lucifer's greatest work of art. Of course I
used the designation "work of art" to mean the work of destruction
personified in Lucifer. In the context of my other comments this was
unequivocal.

I cannot find a fitting name for such a "satanic composition". In my
case, it was not and is not my intention to hurt anyone. Since the
beginning of the attack onward I have felt solidarity with all of the
human beings mourning this atrocity.

Not for one moment have I thought or felt the way my words are now
being interpreted in the press.

The journalist in Hamburg completely ripped my statements out of a
context, which he had not recorded in its entirety, to use it as a
vile attack against my person and the Hamburg Music Festival.

This whole situation is regrettable and I am deeply sorry if my
remarks were misconstrued to offend the grieving families of the
brutal terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C. I will
continue to keep the victims of this outrage in my prayers

Karlheinz Stockhausen
September 19, 2001

----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

Statement by Webmaster
Stockhausen's comments during the Hamburg interview were delivered in
the context of a metaphoric line of questioning. He provided an
allegorical answer to an allegorical question.

Anyone who knows Stockhausen can tell you that he is a compassionate
and thoughtful person. The journalist who spewed forth this
unconscionable poison should immediately retract his untruthful
reporting and publish an apology to Stockhausen.

I live in the USA and we are doing our best with God's help to get
through this cowardly and hateful attack on our nation by terrorists.

I also serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors of a Fire
Protection District. I personally am acquainted with heroic fire
fighters from our area who are tirelessly laboring at Ground Zero in
NYC. As a loyal and patriotic American, I can tell you that Karlheinz
Stockhausen is not the kind of man to condone terrorism in ANY form.

On September 13 Kathinka Pasveer sent me a thoughtful fax from
Karlheinz, Suzee Stephens (who is American) and herself that said "We
all follow the tragedy in the USA and pray for you all. So terrible."

The reporter who wrote this rubbish for the sake of his own financial
and professional gain should be condemned by the public for his
sensational lies and promptly fired by his employer.

James Stonebraker, Webmaster
St. Louis, Missouri USA
September 19, 2001