John Luther Adams (b. 1953)

[7/4]

LETTER FROM ALASKA
SONG OF THE EARTH: composer takes inspiration from the Arctic.
BY ALEX ROSS

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/05/12/080512fa_fact_ross?currentPage=all

On-Demand Audio: John Luther Adams's Become Ocean Live at Carnegie Hall
The New York Premiere of 2014 Pulitzer Prize in Music-winning 'Become Ocean'

http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/ny-premiere-john-luther-adamss-become-ocean/

[7/4]

MUSIC REVIEW

Out of the Northwest, Through Sea and Desert
Seattle Symphony Explores Nature at Spring for Music

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/08/arts/music/seattle-symphony-explores-nature-at-spring-for-music.html?ref=music

[milk]

I found myself giving Adams a chance tonight and enjoying:

[milk]

Yes, very fine late-night listening. Inspiring!

[Karl Henning]

Yes, very fine late-night listening. Inspiring!

I found the samples engaging; will try the actual piece out soon.

[milk]

I found the samples engaging; will try the actual piece out soon.

I had a little trouble a while back accepting J.L. Adams. At first, his music seemed so nice - in a bad way. But I've given it some time and tried to remove some prejudices from view, to accept him on his own terms. I'd have to agree with Mr Hurwitz about this piece (White Silence):
"it really does make the best possible case for his personal artistic vision."
And I think the more I listen to this one, the more I find. I've kept going with it past the first listen. 

[7/4]

WQXR Meet the Composer
John Luther Adams: Bad Decisions and Finding Home
streaming audio

[torut]

"In the White Silence" is the piece I'm liking best.

I am indulging in this beautiful music. Thank you.

I am looking forward to this album, to be released in January 2015.

The Wind in High Places


http://www.coldbluemusic.com/pages/forthcoming.html

Beautiful, vaporous string music, featuring the highly regarded and well known JACK Quartet performing the four-movement title piece and Dream of the Canyon Wren (Adams's first two works written solely for string quartet) and the Northwestern Cello Ensemble, directed by Hans Jensen, performing the four-movement cello choir work Canticles of the Sky.

[torut]

Adams/Cox/Fink/Fox
[asin]B000063WZP[/asin]

The sound of bass clarinet fits Adams's music very well. His Dark Wind (written for Marty Walker, the clarinetist) is the most impressive piece on this album. (I like Jim Fox's work too.)

[AdamFromWashington]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Inuksuit yet! It's an amazing piece. Really different from anything else I've heard by Adams. Some of the craziest percussion you'll ever hear.

[milk]

Adams/Cox/Fink/Fox
[asin]B000063WZP[/asin]

The sound of bass clarinet fits Adams's music very well. His Dark Wind (written for Marty Walker, the clarinetist) is the most impressive piece on this album. (I like Jim Fox's work too.)

The sample does sound pretty cool.

[snyprrr]

Anyone heard the 'Noir' bit with the Saxophone Concerto?

[not edward]

Anyone heard the 'Noir' bit with the Saxophone Concerto?

Wrong John Adams.

[snyprrr]

Wrong John Adams.

DOOOH!

And here I REALLY TRIED, looking at the Thread to make sure!!

[torut]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Inuksuit yet! It's an amazing piece. Really different from anything else I've heard by Adams. Some of the craziest percussion you'll ever hear.

This is wonderful. Thank you. It reminds me of David Tudor's Rainforest IV.

https://www.youtube.com/v/fnoxu4ocQb0

[7/4]

Sloshing in Symphonic Waters
A New Work by John Luther Adams Debuts at Lincoln Center
By ANTHONY TOMMASINI
JULY 27, 2014

[Mirror Image]

I am indulging in this beautiful music. Thank you.

I am looking forward to this album, to be released in January 2015.

The Wind in High Places


http://www.coldbluemusic.com/pages/forthcoming.html

This looks rather nice. Definitely will be buying this one upon its release.

[Mirror Image]

I found myself giving Adams a chance tonight and enjoying:

I need to get this recording. To the Christmas wishlist it goes...

[Mirror Image]

I feel such a strong connection with JLA's music (much, much more than the other Adams) and I think a part of this has to do with the wide-open canvases he paints his music on. It may be strange what I'm about to write, or not, but his music takes me back to a time in my life when I was in Boy Scouts and was visiting the Appalachian Mountains almost on a weekly basis. Just the feeling of being out in the middle of nowhere where you have to accept nature and forget about your own life to realize how vast this planet really is and how we're all insignificant in the end. JLA's music seems to give me these kinds of feelings and allows me to appreciate the beauty of the land much more, but also how we shouldn't take things for granted. His music allows me to cherish those special moments.

[EigenUser]

I feel such a strong connection with JLA's music (much, much more than the other Adams) and I think a part of this has to do with the wide-open canvases he paints his music on. It may be strange what I'm about to write, or not, but his music takes me back to a time in my life when I was in Boy Scouts and was visiting the Appalachian Mountains almost on a weekly basis. Just the feeling of being out in the middle of nowhere where you have to accept nature and forget about your own life to realize how vast this planet really is and how we're all insignificant in the end. JLA's music seems to give me these kinds of feelings and allows me to appreciate the beauty of the land much more, but also how we shouldn't take things for granted. His music allows me to cherish those special moments.

Good post, and it makes me want to listen to more JLA. Interestingly (and I know you don't like him and particularly dislike this work, yada yada yada...), but that is one reason I love Messiaen's Des Canyons aux Etoiles.

What is your favorite JLA work? I haven't heard many, but I do like what I have heard.