Composition and Theory

John Adams Speaks About His Recent Compositions

132 Music Building, free Internationally acclaimed composer John Adams will give a free lecture at the University of Pittsburgh on Saturday, November 15 at 3:30 p.m. Adams will discuss his recent compositions, including his latest opera Dr. Atomic, based on the life of J. Robert. Oppenheimer. John Adams is this year’s Pittsburgh Symphony Composer of the Year and his lecture at Pitt is part of an ongoing collaboration between the PSO and local universities, a collaboration which also includes performances of his music by university ensembles and opportunities for him to mentor young composers. One of America’s most admired and respected composers, John Adams is a musician of enormous range and technical command. Over the past 25 years, Adams’ music has played a decisive role in turning the tide of contemporary musical aesthetics away from academic modernism and toward a more expansive, expressive language, entirely characteristic of his New World surroundings.

Something for Everyone

Starting next Friday there are enough outstanding events taking place in the span of five days that any one could easily get lost in the shuffle, so here's a summary of what's on deck. Friday October 10: Pitt Night at the Symphony $12-$25 depending on seating area for Pitt students, faculty and staff

IonSound Project launches new residency at Pitt

ionsound.jpg Music of Adams, Glass, Reich, Satie, Pärt, and Riley featuring the visual art of Chuck Biddle Bellefield Hall Auditorium General admission $10, student/senior admission $5. Tickets available at the door. Press Release PITTSBURGH-IonSound Project, the University of Pittsburgh's first music ensemble in residence, will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Sept. 20 in the auditorium of Bellefield Hall, 315 S. Bellefield Ave., Oakland. The contemporary chamber ensemble will present a program titled “Mirrors and Minimalism,” featuring Peggy Yoo, flute; Kathleen Costello, clarinet; Laura Motchalov, violin; Elisa Kohanski, cello; Rob Frankenberry, piano; and Eliseo Rael, percussion. This program will feature the work of Pittsburgh photographer Charles Biddle, programming inspired by Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra composer in residence John Adams, and works by Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Erik Satie, and Arvo Pärt.

Entremets: The Story of a Musical Snack

mattshepherd.jpg Last December, members of the University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra premiered my short work Entremets for 14 winds and 2 percussionists. In the midst of Mendelssohn and Brahms, it was a little out of place—like some odd second cousin to the two great composers’ works. entremets.mp3 The story of how this little piece came to be is somewhat amusing, and at the request of Philip Thompson, I’m writing it here.