After John Adams turned 50, one of his biggest developing influences turned out to be a fellow New England native, the iconoclastic Charles Ives. Ives' mystical bent, best-known from his enigmatic mini-masterpiece "The Unanswered Question' turned up in Adams' Naive & Sentimental Music (1999) -- and when he was asked to compose a piece for the New York Philharmonic as a memorial for the appalling events of September 11, 2001, Adams once again turned to Ives for inspiration. Hence On the Transmigration of Souls -- a ...
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After John Adams turned 50, one of his biggest developing influences turned out to be a fellow New England native, the iconoclastic Charles Ives. Ives' mystical bent, best-known from his enigmatic mini-masterpiece "The Unanswered Question' turned up in Adams' Naive & Sentimental Music (1999) -- and when he was asked to compose a piece for the New York Philharmonic as a memorial for the appalling events of September 11, 2001, Adams once again turned to Ives for inspiration. Hence On the Transmigration of Souls -- a disturbing, at times eloquent, mystery laden collage for orchestra, chorus, and tape that owes its soul to Ives' meditation upon an earlier historical tragedy, the sinking of the Lusitania, in the third movement of his Orchestral Set No. 2. The Adams piece opens with the taped low-level roar of New York City, distant sirens, and the names of the dead and missing in the World Trade Center as a chorus gently enters and an orchestral undercurrent evokes "The Unanswered Question." The full resources of the orchestra are permitted to erupt only in a brief spurt of anguish in the center and extended agitation near the end of the piece; otherwise the volume is quiet -- and all the more disturbing for it. The chorus is eventually asked to sing descriptions of the missing taken from the New York Times' "Portraits of Grief" series, as transformed into Adams' peculiar, stylized, conversational choral style. This turned out to be the first recording for the then-newly established team of Lorin Maazel and the New York Philharmonic -- a brave statement of enterprise -- and the 25-minute work was released all by itself in what amounted to an overpriced ($13.99) CD-single. It's hard to see this becoming a repertory piece, given its complex combination of resources, the very specific time and place it was meant to commemorate, and the painful emotions that the event generated. But do hear this work if you can; its atmospheric afterglow will stay with you for hours. ~ Richard S. Ginell, Rovi
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Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Poor. Used-Acceptable, withdrawn library disc(s) with liner notes. Disc(s) should play great without any playback issues. Disc(s) & liner notes may contain typical library markings like stickers, protective label covers, & writing. Discs may be repackaged in library style casing. Back artwork & any other promo material not included.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
