Music concepts and applications

¶ … John Luther Adams approach the idea of engaging the public in his works?

Engaging the public is central to most, if not all, of John Luther Adams's work. For example, in Inuksuit, the idea is to assemble a large number of percussionists outside for a performance. The sound from such an orchestra magnifies on a large scale the sounds of the earth. Earth sounds are essentially mirrored in the composition and its naturalistic, spontaneous performance. No two performances will sound alike, which means the public can be engaged. Each member of the audience is experiencing something completely unique. Another way that John Luther Adams approaches the idea of engaging the public is more direct and straightforward, using language and music both as media of communication. By directly referring to ecological philosophy and political activism, Adams engages the public.

What is significant about writing a piece that has specific and general requirements such as Inuksuit which was created for 9-99 percussionists and intended to be performed out of doors?

The Inuksuit composition was created for a massive orchestra of 99 percussionists and intended to be performed out of doors. The significance of writing this piece is related to Adam's philosophy on the ecology of music. According to Adams, music cannot and should not be separated from nature. This is one reason why Adams deliberately composes and stages his compositions by integrating his own human-generated sounds with the sounds that occur in nature. The specific requirements relate to the general structure of the composition, which is at once loose and organized. Combining spontaneity and chaos, the composer perfectly mirrors the essence of the natural universe.

What is the relationship between art and science? How does this relationship inform how you view either/both disciplines?

Adams writes a lot about the connection between art and science, and the relationship between these two subjects. Adams is especially concerned with environmental science and ecology, as "the science of ecology is a study of patterns," just as music is (Adams, n.d., p. 1). In schools, arts and sciences are separated strongly to the point where they rarely occupy the same physical space in a building or same intellectual space in a classroom. However, Adams challenges this segregation of art and science. According to Adams, "art and science can teach us to transcend ourselves, guiding us beyond our anthropocentric obsessions to a more complete and integrated relationship with the earth," (10). On this level, art and science both have a powerful political dimension. This political dimension is linked with Adams's concept of engaging the public in his work, and also to his determination to reveal the way music and ecology are linked. Similarly, Adams writes, "science reminds us of the miracles of the larger world…to which we belong. Art reminds us of the essential connections of the spirit that we share with all beings and all things," (10). Both art and science involve a sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of nature, and seek to bring the appreciation of nature to the public. As Adams puts it, " the best scientists are also creative thinkers" (cited by Blakely, 2014)

How does JLA define music? How is this definition similar or different from your understanding? What is the significance of this comparison?

Adams (2010) defines music as a "mode of awareness," (p. 3). It begins with a tone, or even just a noise. That is the basic beginning of music: not even a melody has been formed yet. Birdsong or wind can be the genesis of a musical composition, or, as Adams (2010) puts it poetically, "the breath of the world" is music (p. 3). This definition of music is delightful, and challenges me to think about our sonic world differently. The significance of Adams's comparison of music to natural life is that it shows us how we can be more in harmony with nature.

JLA works in the naturally time-based medium of sound, how does this inform his work? What is your response to this interpretation?

In his book, Adams (2010) discusses his habits of composition in "real time" using computer, and finds that he listens more than imagines when he is composing in this way (p. 6). This Adams finds to be helpful, fruitful, and beneficial to the art because he finds "the ear leading the mind a little more," (Adams, 2010, p. 6). There are some drawbacks to this interpretation of a time-based medium of sound. For example, there will be periods of silence. An audience can only endure so much silence before they believe the musical performance to be over. Therefore, silences in nature need to be managed carefully and included judiciously in the composition.