John Luther Adams on Music, Nature, and Finding Home
Composer John Luther Adams, 73, is preparing for the premiere of his new piece "Horizon," set for April 22 at Carnegie Hall, performed by the Australian Chamber Orchestra. In a recent interview, he discussed his artistic journey and connection to the Australian landscape. Having won a Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for "Become Ocean," Adams draws inspiration from his Alaskan roots and influences like Morton Feldman. He also emphasized the need for greater diversity in classical music, pointing out that only a small fraction of the upcoming New York Philharmonic season features female composers. He remains dedicated to his craft, feeling a sense of urgency.
Key facts
- John Luther Adams won the Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for 'Become Ocean'.
- His new piece 'Horizon' premieres at Carnegie Hall on April 22, performed by the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
- Adams now lives in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Australia, on the land of the Arrernte people.
- He lived in Alaska for 40 years, where he helped draft the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
- Adams uses mathematics in his compositions to protect against his 'bad taste'.
- He cites Morton Feldman's 'Piece for Four Pianos' as a pivotal inspiration.
- Adams critiques the New York Philharmonic for programming only 6 women composers out of 52 in its upcoming season.
- He considers his outdoor works, like 'Inuksuit', his most radical contribution.
Entities
Artists
- John Luther Adams
- John Adams
- Charles Ives
- Henry Cowell
- John Cage
- Morton Feldman
- Barry Lopez
- Steve Reich
- Sarah Kirkland Snider
- James Tenney
- Lou Harrison
- William Colvig
- Terry Riley
- Ornette Coleman
- Frank Zappa
- Pharoah Sanders
- Alex Ross
- Steven Schick
- Agnes Martin
- Mark Rothko
- Ludovic Morlot
- Austin Wulliman
- John Schaefer
- Tom Huizenga
- Molly Sheridan
- Cynthia Adams
Institutions
- NPR
- Australian Chamber Orchestra
- Carnegie Hall
- New York Philharmonic
- Seattle Symphony
- California Institute of the Arts
- JACK Quartet
- Big Ears Festival
- Aspen Festival
- Tanglewood
- New Yorker
- KUAC-FM
Locations
- Baja California Sur
- Mexico
- Alaska
- United States
- New York City
- Sonoran Desert
- Chihuahuan Desert
- Southwest U.S.
- Atacama Desert
- Chile
- Australia
- Sydney
- Pacific Ocean
- Tasman Sea
- Tasmania
- Mparntwe
- Alice Springs
- Northern Territory
- Fairbanks
- Knoxville
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Atlanta
- New Jersey
- Staten Island
- Benaroya Hall
- Seattle