“When I was in college, there was an assumed quality to a certain kind of music. The models were very forbidding. A lot of my classmates stopped composing because they were so frustrated. Now, composers just don’t sweat it. They write the way they want. The severe orthodoxy that prevailed during my young years has gone away. If I can take any pride in having done anything in my own career as a composer, I think I helped to break through that obsession with intellectual systems and atonality."
I love atonality, but without tonality as a contrast it becomes pointless. I healthy mix of both is a good thing to achieve. Aside from that, I think Adams did a tremendous service to other composer, players, and audiences. BRAVO, JOHN!
John Luther Adams is a fantastic composer. He creates beautiful soundscapes. Very evocative stuff. Have you heard his piece “Become Ocean?” It’s stunning.
John Adams really broke the mold by using tonality and modality in an unabashed style that set young composers free. I think he is to many composers of the late 20th century what Stravinsky was at the beginning. Both very influential to respective generations of composers. When I was studying in my 20s I was frequently disappointed that serialism was still the academic standard. John really was responsible for unleashing the neo-Romantics. I’m a disciple of JA and JLA.
I played in the American Composers Orchestra in the 80s and got to play Grand Pianola Music by JA several times. It’s a blast to hear and play!
Very funny, Harrison. . I was wondering if someone would go there.
I'm not. I've actually met the guy. He comes from New Hampshire. Good composer.
Yeah, he’s terrific. He was a frequent guest conductor with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra years ago. I got to know him and really enjoyed him.
Re: A beautiful quote my John Adams
Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:54 am
by mbarbier
Don't forget about John Adams's son Sam Adams, who is also quite a good composer! Solid set of names!
JLA had a really beautiful trumpets and trombones piece entitled for Jim, rising writing in memory of his teacher James Tenney who wrote a piece entitled for Anne, rising for his sadly departed wife. Tenney also has some really lovely and beautifully harmonic brass music.
Lots of Adams!
Re: A beautiful quote my John Adams
Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 11:47 am
by PosauneCat
mbarbier wrote: ↑Thu Sep 16, 2021 10:54 am
Don't forget about John Adams's son Sam Adams, who is also quite a good composer! Solid set of names!
JLA had a really beautiful trumpets and trombones piece entitled for Jim, rising writing in memory of his teacher James Tenney who wrote a piece entitled for Anne, rising for his sadly departed wife. Tenney also has some really lovely and beautifully harmonic brass music.
Lots of Adams!
And to add to the confusion JA named his son after yet another founding father!
. I was wondering if someone would go there.