John Adams

Recently I've started acquiring an appreciation for John Adams. Well, for minimalism over all really, but Adams has stuck out. Probably for not being strictly minimalist.

I haven't heard too many of his works, but I'm working on it. The Chairman Dances are my absolute favorite though. Sooner or later I'll have to hear Nixon in China.

Not a lot to say other than...what does YC think of him?

While not my favorite composer, I don't mind his stuff. He's made a niche at it and does quite successful - so what can I say?

I made a lot of style exercises of John Adams's style. It's just wonderful, I really love his style and his composing technique. If you want to know more about this, send a mail --> gollam12@gmail.com

marcell magyari

I think I met his son, Sam Adams at a chamber music festival in the summer. Sam said his dad was a minimalistic composer named John Adams. And he's from the San Fransisco Bay area. I could be wrong, but I'm 99% sure they're related. Sam does a lot with electronic music, extended technique, and a lot of other contemporary musical devices. Anyone out there should seriously consider checking out his stuff, especially if they're into contemporary music.

This is a link to a site where Sam has posted some recordings of his works. I think it's like an E-Portfolio that he set up while at Yale. He just got his masters in comp from there this year. He's got a lot of really cool works.

I think I met his son, Sam Adams at a chamber music festival in the summer. Sam said his dad was a minimalistic composer named John Adams. And he's from the San Fransisco Bay area. I could be wrong, but I'm 99% sure they're related. Sam does a lot with electronic music, extended technique, and a lot of other contemporary musical devices. Anyone out there should seriously consider checking out his stuff, especially if they're into contemporary music.

This is a link to a site where Sam has posted some recordings of his works. I think it's like an E-Portfolio that he set up while at Yale. He just got his masters in comp from there this year. He's got a lot of really cool works.

I love SAMUEL ADAMS... that BEER is the BEST beer ever!!! So rich and smooth!!!

Nixon in China is, in my opinion, his best work. That and 'Short Ride on a Fast Machine'

Lately, though, he's been churning out stuff I loathe.

'American Berserk' for Solo Piano, which I have, is rather... dissonant for my taste.

And when I very excitedly got tickets for Doctor Atomic at the Atlanta Symphony, I was more than disappointed.

One chorus in the whole opera was bearable and interesting [the Bhaghavad Gita chorus] and the libretto was absolutely unbearable.

I was surprised it was even by the same person, because Nixon in China was so gloriously wonderful [i'm particularly fond of 'I am the Wife of Mao Tse-Tung' and 'Cheers'] yet Doctor Atomic was so ghastly and inhumanly awful. As much as I love Baudelaire, I don't see his relevance to a conversation between Oppenheimer and his wife. I understand Oppenheimer liked Baudelaire, but it's place in the opera was both disconcerting and annoying.

I humorously noticed that half the auditorium was empty after the intermission.

Also, Mrs. Oppenheimer was a wonderful singer, I'm sure, but there's only so much you can do with a part that is absolutely mind-numbingly awful.

[/lambasting]

Other than that, I really do <3 Adams.

Nixon in China is, in my opinion, his best work. That and 'Short Ride on a Fast Machine'

Lately, though, he's been churning out stuff I loathe.

'American Berserk' for Solo Piano, which I have, is rather... dissonant for my taste.

And when I very excitedly got tickets for Doctor Atomic at the Atlanta Symphony, I was more than disappointed.

One chorus in the whole opera was bearable and interesting [the Bhaghavad Gita chorus] and the libretto was absolutely unbearable.

I was surprised it was even by the same person, because Nixon in China was so gloriously wonderful [i'm particularly fond of 'I am the Wife of Mao Tse-Tung' and 'Cheers'] yet Doctor Atomic was so ghastly and inhumanly awful. As much as I love Baudelaire, I don't see his relevance to a conversation between Oppenheimer and his wife. I understand Oppenheimer liked Baudelaire, but it's place in the opera was both disconcerting and annoying.

I humorously noticed that half the auditorium was empty after the intermission.

Also, Mrs. Oppenheimer was a wonderful singer, I'm sure, but there's only so much you can do with a part that is absolutely mind-numbingly awful.

[/lambasting]

Other than that, I really do <3 Adams.

Nixon in China is, in my opinion, his best work. That and 'Short Ride on a Fast Machine'

Lately, though, he's been churning out stuff I loathe.

'American Berserk' for Solo Piano, which I have, is rather... dissonant for my taste.

And when I very excitedly got tickets for Doctor Atomic at the Atlanta Symphony, I was more than disappointed.

One chorus in the whole opera was bearable and interesting [the Bhaghavad Gita chorus] and the libretto was absolutely unbearable.

I was surprised it was even by the same person, because Nixon in China was so gloriously wonderful [i'm particularly fond of 'I am the Wife of Mao Tse-Tung' and 'Cheers'] yet Doctor Atomic was so ghastly and inhumanly awful. As much as I love Baudelaire, I don't see his relevance to a conversation between Oppenheimer and his wife. I understand Oppenheimer liked Baudelaire, but it's place in the opera was both disconcerting and annoying.

I humorously noticed that half the auditorium was empty after the intermission.

Also, Mrs. Oppenheimer was a wonderful singer, I'm sure, but there's only so much you can do with a part that is absolutely mind-numbingly awful.

[/lambasting]

Other than that, I really do <3 Adams.