John Adams - Listening Report

 

John Luther Adams is an American composer whose music is highly influenced by nature. His orchestral composition “Become Ocean” is inspired by the oceans of Alaska.

The play shows a lot of variation in style, speed and sounds. Furthermore, a great number of different instruments are involved. For example, I was able to recognize clarinets, harps, flutes, horns, trumpets, pianos, bass drums, violins, and cellos.

“Become Ocean” has a storytelling character due to its huge variation. It creates this picture of being involved with nature, for example by spending time near the ocean. Even though the play does not have specific ocean sounds, it still creates this ocean-like atmosphere.

In my opinion, nature sounds are one of the most beautiful and fascinating sounds because they are created naturally and reflect true nature. It is almost impossible to

 

completely recreate nature sounds with instruments because no instrument is able to imitate true nature.

Even though this might be impossible, some plays are able to still create this atmosphere and feeling of nature sounds. The human mind is able to recognize these imitations and connect them to already known natural sounds. Thus, plays like this feel like a depiction of a situation that involves nature and the sounds of nature because the human mind is able to associate and connect them to already known sounds of nature.

Probably the only two things I did not like about the play are the long breaks in between the different segments and the general length of the play. In my opinion, the breaks should be shortened to maintain the harmony of the play because the breaks, that are filled with complete silence, create a cut in the harmony and unity of “Become Ocean”.