Winter Music
John Luther Adams' book, Winter Music, is worth reading. John Luther Adams, not to be confused with John Adams of Nixon in China and other operas, lives in Alaska, and his music reflects the world in which he lives. A number of composers have written about their world, craft, and music before. Hindemith wrote a number of books, mostly technical though. Stravinsky wrote Poetics of Music, but revealed little. John Cage, of course, wrote many books, and revealed much. Here Adams writes about what it is like to be a composer, especially a composer in the North, and how that works its way into his music.
The book also contains an excellent introductory essay by Kyle Gann, and a CD of some selections of Adams's music, including the wonderful Red Arc/Blue Veil for a small ensemble. Here is what Kyle has to say about John's book.
How does the frozen north work its way into a composer's music? Can music describe a world of white snow and ice, or does it become just part of it? Read the book. It's a wonderful journey.
John Luther Adams is one of the composers featured at this year's Other Minds Festival. Selections from Strange and Sacred Noise will be performed on Saturday night, February 26. And I'll be featuring more of John's music on my KALW radio program Music From Other Minds Friday night February 11 at 11pm.