Classical innovator dies

German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, considered one of the most important composers of the Twentieth Century, died last week aged 79. Stockhausen's work was not without controversy, and was certainly original. His earliest works were in the 'serialist' style (wiki it if you're interested) but later he became associated with the 'aleatoric' technique which leaves key elements of a piece to chance, making each performance of it unique. His music became increasingly outlandish as his career progressed (one piece involved a string quartet hovering above the concert hall in helicopters) which led to some proclaiming him a genius, while others thought him a bit loopy. But he certainly influenced many other musical innovators, including Brian Eno and Bjork.