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

[Karl Henning]

Friday Snap "Death"-Poll!

[mc ukrneal]

I can take it in small doses.

[Mirror Image]

The fourth option applies to my own experience.

[Karl Henning]

I can take it in small doses.

I'm alive to that sentiment out there . . . I was curious to how people fare with the tout ensemble   0:)

[mc ukrneal]

I'm alive to that sentiment out there . . . I was curious to how people fare with the tout ensemble   0:)

Tough to watch/listen in one go. Difficult subject matter (even if you ignore the controversy around it). The music reinforces that.

[Karl Henning]

Tough to watch/listen in one go. Difficult subject matter (even if you ignore the controversy around it). The music reinforces that.

Yes, the "if it is Great Art, it challenges you" gambit   0:)

[North Star]

Yes, the "if it is Great Art, it challenges you" gambit   0:)

In some cases, the challenge is to stay awake. 

[Karl Henning]

I admit, I have faced that challenge with more than one Adams piece!

[Sergeant Rock]

I have not heard any of it and doubt I ever will. The subject matter is something I do not want to dwell on. Besides that, Adam's music (what I have heard) interests me very little.

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

Not that it will necessarily be your thing, Sarge . . . but for my money, this is still his best work, and I continually puzzle over (what I see as) his reliably poor artistic choices since:

http://www.youtube.com/v/DQJaJuMTouE

[Sergeant Rock]

Not that it will necessarily be your thing, Sarge . . . but for my money, this is still his best work, and I continually puzzle over (what I see as) his reliably poor artistic choices since:

http://www.youtube.com/v/DQJaJuMTouE

That vid doesn't work for me but I found another. I'll give Shaker Loops a try.

Sarge

[Mirror Image]

I admit, I have faced that challenge with more than one Adams piece!

+1

[Sergeant Rock]

Four minutes into Shaker Loops, and I find the music irritating, the aural equivalent of Chinese water torture. But I'll keep on truckin'...

https://www.youtube.com/v/Ozb9eigk9yY

Edit: Gets slightly more interesting around 6:00.

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

Four minutes into Shaker Loops, and I find the music irritating, the aural equivalent of Chinese water torture. But I'll keep on truckin'...

https://www.youtube.com/v/Ozb9eigk9yY

Edit: Gets slightly more interesting around 6:00.

Sarge

Sorry to have proposed an irritant, dear fellow!

[Mirror Image]

I think Adams is a terribly uneven composer and I would even say on many occasions he's a poor one. Of the works I do like, he seems to rise above his usual brand of classical schtick to produce what I consider 'great' music like Harmonielehre or Harmonium for example. But those examples aside, I haven't found much that appeals to me nowadays, but I've never been a big supporter of minimalism in general unless it's of the Pärt variety.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I think Adams is a terribly uneven composer and I would even say on many occasions he's a poor one. Of the works I do like, he seems to rise above his usual brand of classical schtick to produce what I consider 'great' music like Harmonielehre or Harmonium for example. But those examples aside, I haven't found much that appeals to me nowadays, but I've never been a big supporter of minimalism in general unless it's of the Pärt variety.

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. But since Naïve and Sentimental Music of 1999, I haven't heard anything that I liked.

Still, I'm glad that this year I'll have two chances to hear Harmonielehre live (once at Grant Park, once at the CSO).

[Sergeant Rock]

Sorry to have proposed an irritant, dear fellow!

It was a valiant attempt, Karl, but even though there are attractive elements here, the piece as a whole just reinforces the fact that few works of minimalism appeal to me.

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

Still, I'm glad that this year I'll have two chances to hear Harmonielehre live (once at Grant Park, once at the CSO).

I think that is a good score to give a fresh chance to, in live performance.  One of a number of his scores which I find very nearly excellent.

It was a valiant attempt, Karl, but even though there are attractive elements here, the piece as a whole just reinforces the fact that few works of minimalism appeal to me.

Sarge

I applaud your readiness to try things out, even with low expectations, dear chap!

EDIT:  FWIW, I think the performance I selected (the video which didn't work for you) is arguably better;  but I do not honestly think that would be a game-changer.

[Dax]

I went to see it in London and enjoyed it although I'm not really an Adams fan.

He's not a minimalist, by the way.

[Ken B]

I keep a stock of new, shiny, shrink-wrapped copies for gifts. Never know when someone will really, reallypiss me off. Be prepared I say.