Because I could not stop for “The Death of K.”

[kishnevi]

Option not listed:
Not heard it.  There's plenty of other music I have yet to hear that interests me more than this opera, which means I may never get around to hearing it.

Stuff by Adams I do like, in a general, no need to argue if you do not like it sort of way, would include Son of Chamber Symphony.

[Karl Henning]

The People have spoken!  72.7% say, They ain't payin' me to listen to all of "The Death of Klinghoffer."

[Mr Bloom]

I can't vote, but that would be "I have listened to all of "The Death of Klinghoffer," and I am indifferent".
That non-love for John Adams is strange.

[Karl Henning]

That non-love for John Adams is strange.

Why?

I pretty much agree with this. There are a handful of Adams works that I like a lot (such as the 2 you mentioned). He seems to have hit his high point when he diverged from pure minimalism and started mixing Romantic elements into his style.

This I find a very interesting opinion, I suppose because (forgive the repetition) I think best of Shaker Loops of any of his music which I've heard, and I suppose this must still belong to his more-nearly-purely Minimalist phase.


The latest time I listened to a large piece of his for chorus and orchestra, I felt (a) that the writing for orchestra was colorless, and the least intelligent use of an orchestra by a composer of a big name I had ever heard;  that, if you will, the music was really written for (apt to) rather smaller instrumental forces, and that he "arranged" it for large orchestra, more instruments and people than the music called for, but, heck, that was the commission;  and (b) some of the plain-vanilla-est choral writing I ever hope to hear in my life.


But of course, he's the pro, and I'm nobody;  so he must be doing it all right, and my artistic quarrels are marshmallows in a bucket of chalk.

[Ken B]

I can't vote, but that would be "I have listened to all of "The Death of Klinghoffer," and I am indifferent".
That non-love for John Adams is strange.

I voted heard and disliked, but I am generally a fan of Adams's early music, especially Nixon, Pianola, Harmonielehre and the piano music.

[Mr Bloom]

Why?

He's famous and pretty well received overall, so you're bound to find some people who like his music. Unless everyone here is french.
That being said, I have no particular appentence for his music.

[Karl Henning]

He's famous and pretty well received overall, so you're bound to find some people who like his music.

Sure, but this poll concentrates on a single piece.  Granted, the guy at the Met who promotes the work assures us that it is music of pure genius . . . .

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I voted heard and disliked, but I am generally a fan of Adams's early music, especially Nixon, Pianola, Harmonielehre and the piano music.

I like some of his smaller-scale stuff too. The Road Movies album featuring L. Josefowicz is a good sampler.

[Karl Henning]

I like some of his smaller-scale stuff too. The Road Movies album featuring L. Josefowicz is a good sampler.

I've made note of your rec of Son of Chamber Symphony, in case the mood may strike me 

[Cato]

...  Granted, the guy at the Met who promotes the work assures us that it is music of pure genius . . . .

Actually, a work of impure genius      would probably be more interesting!  0:)

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I've made note of your rec of Son of Chamber Symphony, in case the mood may strike me 

That was someone else - I haven't even heard it. I did like the original Chamber Symphony, from around 1992.

[Karl Henning]

That was someone else - I haven't even heard it. I did like the original Chamber Symphony, from around 1992.

Sorry to have mistook!

[Karl Henning]

Sorry to Jeffrey, too.

I'll take my Monday Morning Brain-Mush Exemption now, thank you.

[EigenUser]

I've made note of your rec of Son of Chamber Symphony, in case the mood may strike me 

My friend and I saw this one in NYC performed by a Juilliard ensemble. We both enjoyed it, but the real reason we went was for Messiaen's Oiseaux Exotiques (which was definitely the highlight of the program).

[kishnevi]

Sorry to Jeffrey, too.

I'll take my Monday Morning Brain-Mush Exemption now, thank you.

You are talking to someone whose brain is often mushy round the clock. 

Don't remember ever hearing the original Chamber Symphony, so I can't say if the offspring is indeed similar to the parent.

[Mr Bloom]

Son of chamber symphony is close to the Chamber symphony, but with a somehow more melancolic feel. I prefer the cartoonish and more original Chamber symphony.