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Composer of the Week

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West Coast

Duration:
1 hour
First broadcast:
Monday 03 September 2012

Donald Macleod talks this week to America's most frequently performed living composer, John Adams, about his work. In today's programme they look at pieces influenced by life on the West Coast, from one of his earliest works, Shaker Loops, written in a beach house in San Francisco, to a symphony written in his current studio in the mountains, surrounded by giant redwoods. Adams discusses his reasons for setting out on a journey west, in an unreliable Volkswagen Beetle, from Harvard to California in 1971, and what kept him there - from the dramatic coastline to the cultural life he found there.

Music Played

3 items
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
  • 00:01
    Image for John Adams

    John Adams Shaker loops vers. for string orchestra

    Conductor: John ADAMS Performer: St Luke's Orchestra

    , Nonesuch, 7559-749453 -2, 1-4
  • 00:15
    Image for John Adams

    John Adams The Dharma at Big Sur for electric violin and orchestra

    Conductor: John ADAMS Performer: Tracy SILVERMAN - Violin Performer: BBC S O.

    , Nonesuch, 59-75857-2, 1-2
  • 00:32
    Image for John Adams

    John Adams Naive and sentimental music for orchestra

    Conductor: Esa-Pekka Salonen Performer: Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

    , Nonesuch, Nonesuch 7559-79636-2, -2

Broadcasts

Composers A to Z

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Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

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  1. Image for Composer Of The Week

    Composer Of The Week

    Donald Macleod explores the life and work of composers. Composer Of The Week is one of BBC Radio 3's...

  2. Image for Composer of the Week A – G

    Composer of the Week A – G

    Discover the life and works of the world's greatest composers with these free downloads from the...

  3. Image for Composer of the Week H – Q

    Composer of the Week H – Q

    Discover the life and works of the world's greatest composers with these free downloads from the...

  4. Image for Composer of the Week R - Z

    Composer of the Week R - Z

    Discover the life and works of the world's greatest composers with these free downloads from the...

  5. Image for Spirit of Schubert

    Spirit of Schubert

    BBC Radio 3 tells you everything you need to know about Franz Schubert. These free downloads will...

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