In the White Silence (1998). John Luther Adams /gann/

Kyle Gann posts about the music of John Luther Adams:

He's written an astonishing number of pieces that use only "white" notes, no sharps or flats, including his large orchestra piece In the White Silence, which I've posted in its gorgeous 75-minute entirety.

I  blogged on this piece last summer -- not a particular favorite. It's been awhile but I prefer The Far Country of Sleep composed in memory of Morton Feldman. And, New Albion reports some new compositions:

Other works in progress include "Crow and Weasel" - a new collaboration with Barry Lopez and the Sundance Institute - and "Alaskan Dances", a cycle of pieces for solo harp or guitar, based on music of Alaska's indigenous peoples.

The barren aspect of the arctic appeals to me but I had my fill of cold and snow, having lived in the Midwest. The Barry Lopez book is recommended, though. But can you believe Californians voluntarily drive up to the Sierra Nevadas to have winter fun?  Crazy. Great in the summer, though...

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Update: Richard Friedman recommends John Luther Adams' book Winter Music: Composing the North (and points out Adams as one of the featured composers in this month's Other Minds Festival):

A number of composers have written about their world, craft, and music before. Hindemith wrote a number of books, mostly technical though. Stravinsky wrote Poetics of Music, but revealed little. John Cage, of course, wrote many books, and revealed much. Here Adams writes about what it is like to be a composer, especially a composer in the North, and how that works its way into his music.

Comments

[jb]

nice blog