Customer Reviews

John Adams Conducts American Elegies

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When I was in Dr. Knowles music appreciation class in college, I questioned the validity of modern 'art' music, because I didn't understand it (then). Silly me. He recommended John Adams. The local music store, which was stocked heavily with rap and techno and the like, was very limited in their classical selections. This was the only one they had, so I took a chance and bought it. Talk about opening my eyes (and ears).... the vocal works are absolutely mind blowing. Fog Tropes was a little creepy, but it definitely grew on me. You can call this my gateway CD, because I've been searching out 20th century since then. Thanks Dr. Knowles. :)

With this country once again stunned by a yet another war, we find ourselves in a place where solace and nurturing are necessary and deeply needed. This collection of American composers' works that span a century has been lovingly assembled by John Adams and is performed by the usually conductorless Orchestra of St Lukes here under Adams' direction. The disc opens with the hauntingly beautiful Charles Ives' THE UNANSWERED QUESTION and proceeds with five of his best loved songs for voice and small orchestra performed with subtle clarity and undersatement by Dawn Upshaw in tandem with the orchestra. The last of these songs 'Serenity' blooms into the Ingram Marshall moody and exspansive exploration of fog and foghorns in FOG TROPES. Morton Feldman's quietly simple elegy for his piano teacher 'MADAME PRESS DIED LAST WEEK AT NINETY' is followed with John Adams own 'EROS PIANO', a work written as a memoriam/elegy at the death of Morton Feldman. The disc closes with David Diamond's plangent orchestral work 'ELEGY IN MEMORY OF MAURICE RAVEL'. Only on a CD could such programming exist and we are indebted to John Adams for creating this tenderly profound concert which, though recorded in 1989, seems immensely suitable for listening to today.

The major work on this CD in terms of length is John Adams' Eros Piano, approximately 15 minutes. As a solo piano work, it is somewhat more purcussive than his orchestral compositions, but, nonetheless, well worth the listen.

The five Charles Ives songs sung by Dawn Upshaw are a treat, as she brings fine musicianship to anything she approaches. The works by Feldman and Diamond are interesting, new experiences, but I find that I will have to expend considerable effort to be able to come to terms with and appreciate the work by Marshall.

This CD is GREAT. It's moody, almost creepy, but never boring. It would be the perfect music for Halloween or to listen while taking a stroll in the cemetery. I've played it a number of times over the years, and I never get tired of listening to it. Adams and Ives are wonderful composers!

If you want to find out about Charles Ives this isn't the best CD to start out with. Try, "Charles Ives: Quarta sinfonia" or a recording of "The Unanswered Question" these are the works that caused me to fall in love with Ives and only then did his songs make any sense.