Post by erik on Apr 15, 2023 19:52:23 GMT -5
The third piano concerto (in all but name) of the contemporary American composer John Adams is in this week's Classical Works Spotlight in its world premiere recording.
John Adams: MUST THE DEVIL HAVE ALL THE GOOD TUNES
While often regarded as a “minimalist” composer in the manner of Steve Reich and Philip Glass, because of works like “Shaker Loops”, “Harmonium”, “Harmonieliehre”, and “A Short Ride On A Fast Machine”. American composer John Adams has also been able to find the time to compose fairly modern works that don’t sound as (allegedly) repetitious in melody as works normally classified as “Minimalist”. Among his many works comprise three works that are really piano concertos in all but name. The first was “Eros Piano”, premiered in 1994 with pianist Paul Crossley and the composer conducting the London Sinofnietta. The second was “Century Rolls”, premiered in 1997 by pianist Emanuel Ax and Christoph von Dohnanyi conducting the Cleveland Orchestra. Twenty-two years would elapse before his third piano concerto, the 2019 piece “Must The Devil Have All The Good Tunes”. Taking its title from a saying made by the 16th century German priest and theologian Martin Luther, “Must The Devil Have All The Good Tunes”, though scored for a fairly sizeable orchestra and with plenty of jazz-influenced accents, is nevertheless a remarkably straightforward concerto, though not surprisingly marked with tempo markings decidedly different from its late 18th century forebears: (1) Gritty, funky, but in strict tempo. Twitchy, bot-like; (2) Much Slower, Gently, Relaxed; and (3) Piu Mosso: Obsession/Swing. The orchestration also includes instruments like a second piano, marked as a “Honky Tonk” piano; bass guitar; and Almglocken. The work was premiered by the Chinese-born pianist Yuja Wang on March 7, 2019 in Los Angeles, with Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic; that November, Wang, Dudamel, and the L.A. Philharmonic reconvened to make the world premiere recording of Adams’ work for Deutsche Grammophon, alongside the composer’s solo piano piece “China Gates”.
Piano: YUJA WANG
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra/GUSTAVO DUDAMEL (Deutsche Grammophon)
Included:
CHINA GATES (FOR SOLO PIANO) (Piano: YUJA WANG)
John Adams: MUST THE DEVIL HAVE ALL THE GOOD TUNES
While often regarded as a “minimalist” composer in the manner of Steve Reich and Philip Glass, because of works like “Shaker Loops”, “Harmonium”, “Harmonieliehre”, and “A Short Ride On A Fast Machine”. American composer John Adams has also been able to find the time to compose fairly modern works that don’t sound as (allegedly) repetitious in melody as works normally classified as “Minimalist”. Among his many works comprise three works that are really piano concertos in all but name. The first was “Eros Piano”, premiered in 1994 with pianist Paul Crossley and the composer conducting the London Sinofnietta. The second was “Century Rolls”, premiered in 1997 by pianist Emanuel Ax and Christoph von Dohnanyi conducting the Cleveland Orchestra. Twenty-two years would elapse before his third piano concerto, the 2019 piece “Must The Devil Have All The Good Tunes”. Taking its title from a saying made by the 16th century German priest and theologian Martin Luther, “Must The Devil Have All The Good Tunes”, though scored for a fairly sizeable orchestra and with plenty of jazz-influenced accents, is nevertheless a remarkably straightforward concerto, though not surprisingly marked with tempo markings decidedly different from its late 18th century forebears: (1) Gritty, funky, but in strict tempo. Twitchy, bot-like; (2) Much Slower, Gently, Relaxed; and (3) Piu Mosso: Obsession/Swing. The orchestration also includes instruments like a second piano, marked as a “Honky Tonk” piano; bass guitar; and Almglocken. The work was premiered by the Chinese-born pianist Yuja Wang on March 7, 2019 in Los Angeles, with Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic; that November, Wang, Dudamel, and the L.A. Philharmonic reconvened to make the world premiere recording of Adams’ work for Deutsche Grammophon, alongside the composer’s solo piano piece “China Gates”.
Piano: YUJA WANG
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra/GUSTAVO DUDAMEL (Deutsche Grammophon)
Included:
CHINA GATES (FOR SOLO PIANO) (Piano: YUJA WANG)