Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

West Coast

John Adams tells Donald Macleod about his decision to move to the West Coast of America and how it shaped his work. With excerpts from Shaker Loops and Naive and Sentimental Music.

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.

1 hour

Last on

Mon 3 Sep 2012 18:30

More episodes

Previous

You are at the first episode

See all episodes from Composer of the Week

Music Played

  • John Adams

    Shaker loops vers. for string orchestra

    Conductor: John ADAMS Performer: St Luke's Orchestra

    • Nonesuch.
    • 7559-749453 -2.
  • John Adams

    The Dharma at Big Sur for electric violin and orchestra

    Conductor: John ADAMS Performer: Tracy SILVERMAN - Violin Performer: ´óÏó´«Ã½ S O.

    • Nonesuch.
    • 59-75857-2.
  • John Adams

    Naive and sentimental music for orchestra

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

    • Nonesuch.
    • Nonesuch 7559-79636-2.
    • -2.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 3 Sep 2012 12:00
  • Mon 3 Sep 2012 18:30

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

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

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.