"Harmonium" has riveted me since the first Time I heard it. As a chorister, I wanted to sing it. Always, as I listen some nuance in it is new to me. It is huge in its scope and imagry and I am so grateful that I have had the chance to experience it. But beyond that, to see/hear Mr. Adams talk about his work, to see/hear the rehearsal sequences is a powerful addition.
I can fully attest to the transformative power of California's natural wonders on a creative mind. I grew up in FLATLAND (central Texas) so when I finally got past the Continental Divide (west of it) my creativity blossomed in an profound way. That was something that would not have happened in FLATLAND. These two artistic environments are vastly different. I cannot fully go into that here to do any justice to that. // I used to see John Adams walking in the Berkeley Hills.
I must say I don't think I've seen anywhere as flat as when I drove through Amarillo. Though some miles southwest is Palo Duro Canyon and there's a wonderful symphony inspired by that.
@@jazzstandardman Thanks for that. I appreciate your advice. BTW, yesterday I heard Samuel Barber's "Second Essay for Orchestra." Wonderful beyond words.
As someone who has listened to this piece many times over the past several months, it has developed into one of my favorite pieces of music ever, and I was delighted to find this documentary, it was a bit of serendipity to me. Thank you for sharing, this is something I am sure that I will return to.
