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Adams

 9.       John Luther Adams

An Auroral Event & “Become Ocean“

 

       I would have loved to attend the Auroral Event. I can only imagine what great of an event that was. It enabled people to hear nature, to feel it, and to see it. While the sound in that place must have been fantastic and very ingressive also the different soft colors probably made an impression. I like the idea of combining music with meaning. John Luther Adams seems like he cared a lot for our earth and filled his music with the purpose of raising awareness. I don’t know if he just wanted to show what is going to happen due to the climate crisis or if he actually wanted to change something about it with his music.

            Anyways, “Become Ocean“,I would argue, was even more of an environmental statement. I could really feel and imagine the waves that Adams created through music. Some felt strong an massive, like they were in the middle of the deep ocean. Some others felt like really small waves on the beach. The transitions between the different waves were fluent and almost seemingly, like they would be in nature I guess.

            I find this piece of music very beautiful, however it kind of carried a sadness with it. I got contemplative. Adams was able to communicate the sufferings of the earth though “Become Ocean“. I don’t know if that was his intention or if I’m reading to much into it but that is was came across for me. It felt like a wake-up call, as if he was sending a message through music. The message got even clearer when the orchestra was getting louder and louder symbolizing the strength of such waves.

            I find the idea to give music meaning, whichever meaning it might be, great. Music can feel so much more powerful if a message is behind it. I would argue that one is able to really connect with the music once they identify with the background.

            To conclude, this was also a piece that we listened to that really moved me and that I really enjoyed listening to.

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