John Adams and Alex Ross
by Kile Smith | Nov 21, 2008 | Music Criticism, new music
Andy Kahan runs an outstanding author series at the Free Library of Philadelphia, and booked The New Yorker’s Alex Ross to interview the composer (and new autobiographer) John Adams. Andy asked me if I’d like to introduce the proceedings, which I was of course happy...News
6 Jul. “Why Did They All Shout?” from The Arc in the Sky, Reading Bach Choir, Daniel Mahoney, Caversham, Reading, Great Britain
11 Jul. PREMIERE Arise, O Lord, Psalm 132 for SATB, org, 10′. Psalm Festival of the 2024 Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Institute for Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music, Seward, Nebraska, the Bellevue Singers and organist Jacob Weber, conducted by A.J. Reimer.
15 Jul. Interviewed with Jacqueline Smith on KFUO Radio The Coffee Hour with hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth
18 Oct. PREMIERE. Dark Is the Night and Green Is the Grass (Tumša nakte, zale zale). Riga Project Choir, Latvia, Christopher Walsh Sinka
3 Nov. The Bremen Town Musicians. Premiere Performances, Musical Fairytales, Hong Kong, Andrea Fessler, two performances
16 Nov. The Consolation of Apollo. Houston Chamber Chorale, Robert Simpson, St. Philip Presbyterian, Houston
7 Dec. The Consolation of Apollo. New version, with string orchestra. Plus PREMIERE of new Christmas carol. Bethlehem Bach Choir, Christopher Jackson
8 Dec. The Consolation of Apollo. New version, with string orchestra. Plus PREMIERE of new Christmas carol. Bethlehem Bach Choir, Christopher Jackson
15 Dec. Chorale Fantasias from Vespers. Ravenswood Community Orchestra, Eli Chen, Chicago
2025
28 Feb. PREMIERE. New 15′ Work. Choir and organ, on the life of St. Peter. Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Michael Plagerman
9 Mar. PREMIERE. Jubilate Deo for chorus and orchestra. Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, Sheldon Bair, Bel Air, MD
14 Mar. PREMIERE. Endless Morn of Light. 20′, Sylvan Viol Consort, Variant Six. Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia
15 Mar. Endless Morn of Light. Sylvan Viol Consort, Variant Six. First and Central Presbyterian, Wilmington, DE
16 Mar. Endless Morn of Light. Sylvan Viol Consort, Variant Six. Levering Mill Tribute House, Bala Cynwyd, PA
26 Apr. PREMIERE. Even the Grass Must Sing. 19′, The Choristers with orchestra, Lansdale, PA, David Spitko
Recent CDs
The Bremen Town Musicians. English Symphony Orchestra, Gemma Whelan, narrator, Kenneth Woods, conductor. Fiddles, Forests, and Fowl Fables.
The Arc in the Sky. The Crossing. 2020 Grammy nomination, Best Choral Performance
Canticle and Alleluia. Vocal Arts Ensemble. 2020 Grammy, Classical Producer of the Year, Blanton Alspaugh
In This Blue Room, other songs. Lyric Fest
A Child’s Afternoon. Fantasmagoria. Anna K. Meyer, flute, & Erik Meyer, organ
The Nobility of Women. Mélomanie
The Stars Shine, from The Consolation of Apollo. The Same Stream
Vespers. Piffaro, the Renaissance Band, and The Crossing
Where Flames a Word. The Crossing
Where Flames a Word. Voces Tallinn. 2020 Estonian Recording of the Year
Where Flames a Word. Khorikos
Where Flames a Word. Chicago Chamber Choir
Selected publications
The Star-Spangled Banner. SATB, piano, opt. cello, 5’30”. Hal Leonard
Alleluia. SATB, 6′. Hal Leonard
The Consolation of Apollo. SATB, perc, 35′. MusicSpoke
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. SATB, bells, 3′. Hal Leonard
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. SATB, org, 3′. Concordia.