Adams, John Luther

**smittims** · 29-11-24, 07:57

Is this the famous American composer John Adams, or another one?

I thought I'd stand back and let others, who may like his music more than I do, answer first , but as I see no-one did I'll chip in with my two pennyworth.

Before I listened to any of his music I heard it praised a great deal. But sadly, I've been unable to find anytthing to like in it. I won't offer any criticisms, as that might be out of place at this stage, but it is a curious phenomenon to me how the same music can mean so much to some people and so little to others. Elgar and Vaughan Williams, for instance, are central to my life and always have been , but I find others simply cannot stand their music, . I've always loved the music of Arnold Schoenberg (and I always stress rhe word really is love) but I find many others don't regard it as music at all, but some sort of pretentious pose.

I wonder if our liking or disliking , of certain music has to do with our view of life .

**Pulcinella** · 29-11-24, 08:29

Originally posted by smittims View Post

Is this the famous American composer John Adams, or another one?

I thought I'd stand back and let others, who may like his music more than I do, answer first , but as I see no-one did I'll chip in with my two pennyworth.

Before I listened to any of his music I heard it praised a great deal. But sadly, I've been unable to find anytthing to like in it. I won't offer any criticisms, as that might be out of place at this stage, but it is a curious phenomenon to me how the same music can mean so much to some people and so little to others. Elgar and Vaughan Williams, for instance, are central to my life and always have been , but I find others simply cannot stand their music, . I've always loved the music of Arnold Schoenberg (and I always stress rhe word really is love) but I find many others don't regard it as music at all, but some sort of pretentious pose.

I wonder if our liking or disliking , of certain music has to do with our view of life .

Two different people.

John Luther Adams - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Luther_Adams

**Belgrove** · 29-11-24, 09:05

Originally posted by Mandryka View Post

Anyone explored his music?

Become Ocean is worth a listen. Scored for large orchestra, structurally it forms a palindrome over some 45 minutes of music. It certainly conveys the inexorable and ever changing power of the sea.

**smittims** · 29-11-24, 14:17

Thanks, Pulcinella. How interesting. My post was, of course , about the better-known John Adams . I'll look out for this other one.

**Mandryka** · 29-11-24, 16:49

Originally posted by smittims View Post

Thanks, Pulcinella. How interesting. My post was, of course , about the better-known John Adams . I'll look out for this other one.

I think it's not obvious that John Adams is better known than John Luther Adams - on the contrary. It's very hard to get a clear perception of the importance, whatever that meana, of living and recently living composers.

So far the two pieces I've enjoyed most are Songbirds and The Far Country Called Sleep.

**Mandryka** · 29-11-24, 16:51

Originally posted by Belgrove View Post

Become Ocean is worth a listen. Scored for large orchestra, structurally it forms a palindrome over some 45 minutes of music. It certainly conveys the inexorable and ever changing power of the sea.

For me, this sort of immersive music works better in concert than at home, I'm not sure why.

**smittims** · 2024-11-30T07:19:51+00:00

I'm not sure what you mean, Manryka. I wasn't suggesting order of importance, as I've not heard any music by JL Adams and I'm no fan of J Adams! But surely 'The Chairman Dances' , 'The Death of Klinghoffer' and (is it?) 'Harmonielehre' are better known than anything by the other chap?

I agree, though, that 'better-known' isn't the same as 'better'. I 'm sure that (as we'll no doubt be reminded in the coming weeks) Slade's 'Merry Christmas' is better-known than Monteverdi's 'Ritorno di Ulisse' but is it a better piece?

**Mandryka** · 2024-11-30T11:32:50+00:00

Originally posted by smittims View Post

I'm not sure what you mean, Manryka. I wasn't suggesting order of importance, as I've not heard any music by JL Adams and I'm no fan of J Adams! But surely 'The Chairman Dances' , 'The Death of Klinghoffer' and (is it?) 'Harmonielehre' are better known than anything by the other chap?

I

Well it's not obvious to me, the JLA "Becoming" trilogy for example was so widely acclaimed.

**smittims** · 2024-11-30T13:58:20+00:00

Where? I admit I don't read newspapers but I'd never heard of this man , nor of his music, and since only one other person has replied to your thread, were it not for the Wikipedia entry I'd wonder if it wasn't a hoax. Maybe this 'wide acclaim ' took place somewhere else. The Vatican? Cargill, South Island?

**Mandryka** · 2024-11-30T16:50:06+00:00

Originally posted by smittims View Post

Where? I admit I don't read newspapers but I'd never heard of this man , nor of his music, and since only one other person has replied to your thread, were it not for the Wikipedia entry I'd wonder if it wasn't a hoax. Maybe this 'wide acclaim ' took place somewhere else. The Vatican? Cargill, South Island?

The United States of America. Granmy and Pulitzer, top of the classical hit parade.

It's easy to miss classical composers like you missed JLA I guess. I was speaking to someone the other day who loves classical music but who had never even heard of Salvatore Sciarrino ot Olivier Greif or Bruno Mantovani!

**hmvman** · 2024-11-30T16:53:22+00:00

I must admit that I hadn't heard of John Luther Adams until earlier this year and I'm not very familiar with his music, whereas I was aware of John Adams' music in the 1980s (thanks to R3). Sorry, smittims, I like JA's music but I agree that's it's interesting how music is so subjective and personal.