Adams: Absolute Jest & Grand Pianola Music - John Adams, San Francisco Symphony & Michael Tilson Thomas

Adams: Absolute Jest & Grand Pianola Music

John Adams, San Francisco Symphony & Michael Tilson Thomas

  • Genre: Classical
  • Release Date: 2015-08-14
  • Explicitness: notExplicit
  • Country: USA
  • Track Count: 11

  • ℗ 2015 San Francisco Symphony

Tracks

Title Artist Time
1
Absolute Jest: I. Beginning San Francisco Symphony, St. Lawrence String Quartet & Michael Tilson Thomas 10:35
2
Absolute Jest: II. Presto San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas & St. Lawrence String Quartet 3:30
3
Absolute Jest: III. Lo stesso San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas & St. Lawrence String Quartet 1:07
4
Absolute Jest: IV. Meno mosso San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas & St. Lawrence String Quartet 3:18
5
Absolute Jest: V. Vivacissimo San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas & St. Lawrence String Quartet 1:49
6
Absolute Jest: VI. Prestissimo San Francisco Symphony, St. Lawrence String Quartet & Michael Tilson Thomas 5:20
7
Grand Pianola Music: Ia. Fast John Adams, San Francisco Symphony, Synergy Vocals, Orli Shaham & Marc-André Hamelin 15:23
8
Grand Pianola Music: Ib. Slow John Adams, San Francisco Symphony, Synergy Vocals, Orli Shaham & Marc-André Hamelin 7:46
9
Grand Pianola Music: II. On th John Adams, San Francisco Symphony, Synergy Vocals, Orli Shaham & Marc-André Hamelin 8:39
10
San Francisco Symphony Records San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas & John Adams 4:47

Reviews

  • Not too bad

    3
    By Boolez
    I have misgivings anythime composers borrow or attempt to rewrite music from the past. Absolute Jest isn't a complete faliure, it gets the job done in a non offending way. Adams has always been hit or miss with me now that he's officially shirked off the minimallist tendicies of the past. This was written to be a crowd pleaser, and as such doesn't challenge the players or listener all that much. MTT et all play it well enough to warrent at least one listening. -Bz

  • Yes! This is s good one!!!

    5
    By Gowdie
    I didn't get to see the world premiere of John Adams' "Absolute Jest" in San Fransisco in 2012, but I did see the performance of this piece a few days later at Carnegie Hall, Which I'd like to think is close enough. I'm so glad this release has come out. "Absolute Jest" is not only one of John's best works, it also has a vitality, a groove and a spirit that is intoxicating. With all the hard work and intellect that it took to compose, this work makes a visceral impact on any listener who hears it. And that is the whole point of music making! Well done MTT and SFS!

  • Really Good

    5
    By JackRSkellington
    I was waiting for this one...the discussion about "fragments of Beethoven" made me nervous. I was expecting some kind of ill-conceived homage or mashup like the weirdo Radio Rewrite or ReComposed Four Seasons projects. This however is 95% Adams and clearly he's doing what we all do in taking bits of great music and messing with it in our minds. But most people aren't as good a composer or craftsman as Adams is. Great stuff...surprised. One of his strongest recent efforts.

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