John Luther Adams signs to Music Sales
13th December 2016
Both the life and work of John Luther Adams are deeply rooted in the natural world, often almost inextricably to the extent that to experience the music is to experience the setting in which it is heard. This applies to a strand of work in his output to which he feels particularly close - music to be performed outdoors. As an example, Inuksuit, his outdoor work for up to 99 percussionists, is regularly performed all over the world.
His music for the concert hall has also captured increasing attention, in particular the 2013 orchestral piece, Become Ocean, for which he was awarded the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Music, and a 2015 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.
His next major new work, Become Desert, is a forty-five minute piece for chorus and orchestra to be premiered in Spring 2018. It has been co-commissioned by Seattle Symphony, New York Philharmonic and San Diego Symphony.
Columbia University has honoured Adams with the William Schuman Award ‘to recognise the lifetime achievement of an American composer whose works have been widely performed and generally acknowledged to be of lasting significance.’ A recipient of the Heinz Award for his contributions to raising environmental awareness, Adams has also been awarded the Nemmers Prize from Northwestern University ‘for melding the physical and musical worlds into a unique artistic vision that transcends stylistic boundaries.’ In addition he was named Musical America Composer of the Year in 2015.
John Luther Adams comments:
‘My music comes from the earth. And I’m thrilled that this partnership with Chester Music will bring the music to more people all over this beautiful blue stone spinning in space.’
James Rushton, Managing Director of Chester Music says:
‘It is a great privilege for Chester Music to have the opportunity to work with John Luther Adams. His music is very much the product of an original mind and of a passion for the natural world. John’s idiom is his and only his, and we welcome the chance to spread the word widely, as it so deserves to be.'
Listen to JLA’s music here
More about JLA…
Born in 1953, JLA grew up in the South and in the suburbs of New York City. He studied composition with James Tenney at the California Institute of the Arts, where he was in the first graduating class (in 1973). In the mid-1970s he became active in the campaign for the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, and subsequently served as executive director of the Northern Alaska Environmental Center.
Adams has taught at Harvard University, the Oberlin Conservatory, Bennington College, and the University of Alaska. He has also served as composer in residence with the Anchorage Symphony, Anchorage Opera, Fairbanks Symphony, Arctic Chamber Orchestra, and the Alaska Public Radio Network.
The music of John Luther Adams is recorded on Cantaloupe, Cold Blue, New World, Mode, and New Albion, and his books are published by Wesleyan University Press.
johnlutheradams.net
Read about the relationship between JLA, his music, and the natural world
