John Adams did a wonderful job in memorial

I heard the broadcast of the new John Adams memorial to 9-11 on the
radio, as played by the New York Philharmonic under Lorin Maazel.
Adams did an excellent, excellent job of it.

It wasn't maudlin, as one might expect of such a work. In fact,
there have been *several* of such lugubrious pieces, mostly for
chamber groups, already created.

Instead it was fresh, reverberant, sometimes, believe it or not, even
funny. There are funny things in life even in tragedy.

If I heard it correctly, it started with an assistant saying "yes
sir, right away, sir..." setting up the idea that many of these
people, victims of cruel fate, really didn't want to be there in the
first place...

Also such reiterated phrases as "we love you..." "we miss you..."
came off touchingly and not maudlin, with just the right effect.

In addition, the "reportage" aspect of this work was enhanced by live
recording of various sounds of the city. It was, after all, also a
portrayal of an event. This electronic aspect added to
the "freshness" of the work. And, of course, the recitation of names
of the victims, woven thoughout the piece was more than appropriate.

What a *perfect* piece for this kind of thing! An additional link
about the work can be found here:

http://www.newyorkphilharmonic.org/index.cfm

Joseph Pehrson

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph Pehrson" <jpehrson@...>

> Instead it was fresh, reverberant, sometimes, believe it or not, even
> funny. There are funny things in life even in tragedy.
>
> If I heard it correctly, it started with an assistant saying "yes
> sir, right away, sir..." setting up the idea that many of these
> people, victims of cruel fate, really didn't want to be there in the
> first place...
>
> Also such reiterated phrases as "we love you..." "we miss you..."
> came off touchingly and not maudlin, with just the right effect.
>
> In addition, the "reportage" aspect of this work was enhanced by live
> recording of various sounds of the city. It was, after all, also a
> portrayal of an event. This electronic aspect added to
> the "freshness" of the work. And, of course, the recitation of names
> of the victims, woven thoughout the piece was more than appropriate.

Didn't Steve Reich already do something like this with City Life? I'd like
to hear
John Adams really knock my socks off with some original minimalism.

I'll look at your links in the morning.

* David Beardsley
* http://biink.com
* http://mp3.com/davidbeardsley

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Beardsley" <db@...>
>
> Didn't Steve Reich already do something like this with City Life? I'd like
> to hear
> John Adams really knock my socks off with some original minimalism.

And of course I haven't heard the piece.What does the music
sound like? It may have nothing to do with minimalism.

* David Beardsley
* http://biink.com
* http://mp3.com/davidbeardsley

--- In metatuning@y..., David Beardsley <db@b...> wrote:

/metatuning/topicId_3159.html#3163

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Beardsley" <db@b...>
> >
> > Didn't Steve Reich already do something like this with City Life?
I'd like
> > to hear
> > John Adams really knock my socks off with some original
minimalism.
>
> And of course I haven't heard the piece.What does the music
> sound like? It may have nothing to do with minimalism.
>
>

***You are right, David. This piece had *very little* minimalism in
it at all. It was more like a big, reverberant environment, with
sounds of the city in it and other electronic things. The *chorus*
did some reiteration of sung phrases and so forth, but it really
didn't sound minimal.

What impressed me was the fact that it wasn't a "standard" kind of
piece, which could err on the maudlin and lugubrious side. That's
what I, personally, would expect of memorials of this kind.

But this was original and different...

best,

Joe

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph Pehrson" <jpehrson@...>

> --- In metatuning@y..., David Beardsley <db@b...> wrote:
>
> /metatuning/topicId_3159.html#3163
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "David Beardsley" <db@b...>
> > >
> > > Didn't Steve Reich already do something like this with City Life?
> I'd like
> > > to hear
> > > John Adams really knock my socks off with some original
> minimalism.
> >
> > And of course I haven't heard the piece.What does the music
> > sound like? It may have nothing to do with minimalism.
> >
> >
>
> ***You are right, David. This piece had *very little* minimalism in
> it at all. It was more like a big, reverberant environment, with
> sounds of the city in it and other electronic things. The *chorus*
> did some reiteration of sung phrases and so forth, but it really
> didn't sound minimal.
>
> What impressed me was the fact that it wasn't a "standard" kind of
> piece, which could err on the maudlin and lugubrious side. That's
> what I, personally, would expect of memorials of this kind.
>
> But this was original and different...

That's good to hear! I liked some of his early works like American Standard,
but what I guess we'll call his "middle period" sounded too much
like the major minimalists. Apparently he's moved on. ;)

* David Beardsley
* http://biink.com
* http://mp3.com/davidbeardsley