This Article represents an attempt to examine the "Piano Piece XIII" by K. Stockhausen - the leader of "New Music" and one of the most significant composers of the 20th century. The research is based on the triad "composer-performer-listener" and it intends to describe the artistic life of this peculiar piano piece. A full description of the life of any piece of music will contain the description of its fate from the artist's conception to its realization in the social musical consciousness. Though it has to be admitted that the approach of the article is not musicological. As a performer of the piano piece, the author will try to consider all three members of the triad mentioned above from the position of a performer. The main attention will be directed at the performer's role as a mediator between the composer and listeners.
"Piano Piece XIII" represents a new genre - "scenic music", which arose in the II half of the 20th century. The specificity of this genre caused the enlargement of traditional functions of a pianist in the "piano piece XIII", raising problems of interpretation. Dealing with them makes up the most important part of the article.
The article will provide not only musicians, but also lovers of modern art with interesting information. It will give them opportunity, to get acquainted with the intriguing piece of music by the extremely original "new" artist.