#sfsymphony

Month of Inspiration Day 17: John Adams’ Harmonielehre

When I started college and went to my first composition lesson, one of the first questions I was asked was if I had heard this piece.  I hadn’t, so once I got back to my dorm, I found this recording and was promptly blown away.

I could put John Adams down as a topic on this list on his own.  His music has taught me so much about rhythm and pulse and orchestration and transition.  Especially transition.  One of the things I love about this piece, in particular, is how smooth every single transition is.  The piece moves so naturally from one section to the other, that most of the time, you don’t realize you’re in a new section until you’re there.  

This is the sort of music you can get lost in but never care.  I just really love it, at the end of the day, and I’ll come back to listen to this piece from time to time when I need a pick-me-up.  Especially the last movement.  But, if there’s any interest, here are a few more pieces by Adams that I absolutely love. x x x

La Orquesta Sinfónica de San Francisco Uno de los conciertos de verano de la Sinfónica de San Francisco fue dedicado a la Época de Oro del cine norteamericano, y estuvo de lo más interesante. El concierto se realizó el 22 de Julio en Davies Symphony Hall. Bajo la excelente conducción de Edwin Outwater y con Sterling Elliot estelarizando con el violoncello, deleitaron al público con melodías de…