John Adams: Genius or Boring? (or something in between)

I think he's a genius. The music college I went to bowed down to him, so maybe they brainwashed me. None the less, I love him.

@CO I agree with you. I think people will talk about Nixon in China and Phrygian Gates forever. But, other than that, his works will probably just become rep hiding in the fold.

But, that's ok. I still really like his music. I think it's just.. different! I mean, it's not the most developed music. It's very bouncy around different ideas. But, to be honest, I don't think he CARES about classical structure or any type of organization. He simply wants to express emotion any way he knows how. And, for that, I admire. I couldn't do what he does. Post-minimalism is hard, because you want to hold on to past ideals, but they are too strict, and the future of music is too open to really grasp. It's a scary thought. Somehow along the way, we have to live in the moment and just write what we feel. What do we do? I don't know. I think somebody LIKE John Adams is a good example, because from what I have analyzed, he is different. His sound is "John Adams". I mean, I could listen to any number of his works and call him out like a sore thumb. That is ALWAYS what you want. Whether it's bad or good, if I can tell your work, that's when you start to become unique.

Hopefully, one day, I will develop my voice and people will recognize me. :)

Morivou: I honestly can pretty much tell who wrote what, so I can tell when it's your piece already. ;) Post some more stuff!

Morivou: I honestly can pretty much tell who wrote what, so I can tell when it's your piece already. ;) Post some more stuff!

I will soon! I am currently writing a Bassoon solo to be premiered in October. So, soon after that, I will post the score and a recording. Keep on the look out!

I am also revising my Toccata for two pianos to be rerecorded sometime late Fall. So, I'll be posting an updated version of that. It's gonna be part of a Larger cycle of dual piano works I hope to have done by the end of Summer 2012.

Ok.... so I just got a recording of Nixon in China. Pretty good. Are there any really good performances to recommend?

Not sure, actually. I'm no good at specific performances. My FAVORITE cast overall is the Chicago cast. I hate their Nixon, but everyone else is fantastic.

Now, the MET one, which is on Youtube, has the BEST Nixon. But, everyone else sucks. :P hahah.

What do you think about his Grand Pianola Music?

Weirdly enough. I had never heard that before! Genius! :D

I love some oh John Adams, and dislike some. I personally think the man is a genius (the stuff i hate is his fairly atonal stuff). On the transmigration of souls always gives me the shivers. China and Phyrigian Gates are great. I also own shaker loops, PHENOMENAL!!!!!!! I think he's more rythmnically driven than minimalist, or much like Ravel, cannot really be categorized all that well, but tends to fall into one category.

The best Nixon in China performance is definitely the Met one. But his best work, his magnum opus, HAS to be "DOCTOR ATOMIC!"

Omg... Doctor Atomic makes me so happy I could die.

I.

could.

die.

There is NO better opera. It's so emotional. New. Sexy. Mechanical. Dissonant. Ugly. Fierce.

It's MY kind of Adams.

Thank you, Mr. John Adams, for giving me my dream role. :)

Lohengrin is better.

Personally I prefer Brett Dean's opera "Bliss"

Wagner? Really? Ew.

Personally I prefer Brett Dean's opera "Bliss"

I know that opera. Needlessly dissonant and unemotional, in my opinion. Lots of screaming people.

I know that opera. Needlessly dissonant and unemotional, in my opinion. Lots of screaming people.

Really? It was a big hit here in Australia at the time of its premiere.

Well. Sorry. haha.

I must have bad taste. ;)

Hahah! "Lots of screaming people" definitely in the scene in the mental hospital! :D

OH yes. It's a good story though.

It's hard to proclaim somebody a "genious", it's better not to do it.

For John Adams, I like some of his music and I don't like some of it as well. I like Short ride in fast machine, Harmonielehre (I used this work to apply for lectureship at the academy) and I don't like Grand Pianola music. Every composer has written some masterpieces and some weaker stuff. The better composers have more masterpieces than weaker stuff, though.

Grand Pianola is one of my favs. :)

I don't think it's hard to proclaim anybody a genius. To be honest, I think most composers are geniuses of a kind, when you think about the incredibly vast majority of people who cannot do it well.

He comes closer to it than a lot of others, though I can't say I'm convinced. I'm not altogether sure he takes the art seriously enough, but maybe that's just his personality. (I met him briefly and he seemed like a really nice guy, for the record.) He uses some...odd...titles and has some passages that seem rather childish.

By far my favourite piece of his, and which I do consider a masterpiece, is Fearful Symmetries (Nixon in China lovers should check it out, as it was written at the same time). I'm a little surprised it hasn't been mentioned. Other pieces I tend to like in part, or certain movements thereof, but not necessarily in whole. Maybe he's inconsistent, or maybe it's just me.

I saw Alex Ross had a write up about Adams' new stuff. Sounds like it's a little different, though I haven't actually heard any samples.

His violin concerto is still my favorite work of his--enjoyed Doctor Atomic as well.