Originally published in 1974, Stockhausen Serves Imperialism is a collection of essays by the English composer Cornelius Cardew that provides a Marxist critique of two of the more revered avant-garde composers of the post-war era: Karlheinz Stockhausen and John Cage. A former assistant to Stockhausen and a champion of Cage in England, Cardew provides a cutting rebuke of the composers’ works and ideological positions, which he saw as reinforcing an imperialist order rather than spotlighting and serving the struggles of the working class.

Produced on the occasion of the exhibition: Karlheinz Stockhausen & Mary Bauermeister–Elektronische Muziek–Schilderijen at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 2–25 June, 1962; Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, 14 September–12 October, 1962; Stedelijk Museum, Schiedam, 2 November–3 December, 1962 and Groninger Museum, Groningen, 22 December–20 January, 1963

SM Cat. No 311.

Designed by Willem Sandberg.