JLA is changing modern classical music
5
By Black Ark
Don’t listen to the naysayers prattling on about “a drone piece for orchestra”—there’s a lot more going on in this recording, thanks to the way it was composed, recorded and mixed. Hidden melodies are rolling over each other throughout (like the undulations in ocean swells), with the piano and harp arpeggios really taking charge of the piece in some sections (both physically demanding parts, by the way, if you’ve seen it in performance). It’s ambient and calm in some places, forceful and almost terrifying in others. You rarely get that range of dynamics out of a modern orchestral recording, but JLA and the SSO have done it.
JLA is changing modern classical music
5
By Lost A Sock
Don’t listen to the naysayers prattling on about “a drone piece for orchestra”—there’s a lot more going on in this recording, thanks to the way it was composed, recorded and mixed. Hidden melodies are rolling over each other throughout (like the undulations in ocean swells), with the piano and harp arpeggios really taking charge of the piece in some sections (both physically demanding parts, by the way, if you’ve seen it in performance). It’s ambient and calm in some places, forceful and almost terrifying in others. You rarely get that range of dynamics out of a modern orchestral recording, but JLA and the SSO have done it.
jla
3
By barisaxcompose
A blend of soundscapes that work well together.
Alex Ross wrote an informative review about this piece and before I read it I too thought of Debussy's La Mer complete with a harp intro and the two note upward and downward motives for the woodwinds, and sound mass of brass, complete with rolling tympani and strings. A coincidence that both have the same reference in their respective titles.
Atmospheres of Ligeti, and Metastasis of Xenakis, also come to mind.
Wave after wave, it envelopes you with delicate furry
5
By ducatiluca
Absolutely stunning, brilliant and moving. This is a brilliant piece of art. I highly recommended you let the music embrace you like a wave from the ocean.
Captivating
5
By Paul BKK
A gorgeous, thought-provoking and emotional piece of music. It’s neither music for the background of a quite office nor undergirding for meditation. It deserves, in my view, that one sits uninterrupted for 45 minutes or so as the piece unfolds. Avoid the political contretemps over melting polar ice caps and instead give JLA his due for penning this modern masterpiece. Yes, it some ways it resembles the hypnotic but essential banal music produced by one-man-bands with synthesizers in lonely studio apartments. But here an entire orchestra of human beings has collaborated to produce a lovely piece of music that is so much more.
Boring...zzzzz
1
By Stszejna
I admit I am no music scholar or classical music expert. I listened to the recording twice and was very bored with it. It's just noise to me. This won a Pulitzer Prize? I'm sorry I spent the $10 on it.
Immersive and subtle piece rewards repeated listenings.
5
By D Boyle
This is plainly a fantastic piece, entirely deserving of the 2014 Pulitzer and the 3 Grammy nominations it recently garnered. It is luscious, full of layers, depth, and tiny variations amongst the repetitive structures which make up the ocean of sound that will engulf you. If you open yourself up to the entire experience, this piece will draw you in and pull you along with its musical current. Adams has clearly created something special here.
One thing, listen to this on the best sound system you have. This piece is engineered wonderfully, and comes across best when the speakers you are listening on have full dynamic and frequency range. Then it will really blow (or wash?) you away. I just put it on in my house and blast it. Truly an amazing experience!
Listening hours and days
5
By markdc10
I absolutely love this album. I find this particular symphony great to listen to while I work. I am in graduate school and I listen to this almost every day. It does not disrupt my thinking or work. Alone with other various classical music albums, I highly recommend this. The sample does not do justice to this music.
Excruciatingly Dull
2
By Ericg51
Listening to this a second time, I couldn’t help thinking how sorry I felt for the musicians who were forced to play the most utterly boring passages yet encountered in the vast classical literature. Sorry I actually paid for this.
Adams: Become Ocean
5
By i<3music!!!!!!!
Stunning. With a piece this length (45 min-ish) you can use this for yoga or meditation (that is what I do!). Let your mind wander and imagination run free as you listen to this beautiful creation.
