Hallelujah Junction: Composing an American Life - Softcover

Adams, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0571231160 ISBN 13: 9780571231164

Publisher: Faber & Faber, 2016

Synopsis

One of Americas foremost composers reflects on his life and times, from the marching bands of his 1950s childhood to his acclaimed 2005 opera Doctor Atomic. He also explains the interplay of tradition and innovation in his own compositional process and the work of fellow-musicians.

About this title

Review:

"

""No book I know of better captures the thrill of a moment of artistic freedom and innovation. . . . This is a book that any aspiring artist, in any medium, should read as a kind of how-to guide to achieving artistic success without losing integrity. . . . A book for anyone who wants to create something--including a self."--David Rollow, "The Boston Globe """ "How Mr. Adams arrived at this particular harmonic language is largely the subject of his absorbing book, which at times reads like a quest narrative that travels through the whole landscape of twentieth-century music."--Chip McGrath, "The New York Times""" "A lively, witty prose writer. . . . It's the range of Adams's musical appetites and intellectual hunger that leaves the strongest impression. This is a man who swallows whole new worlds with every fresh project he takes on--and makes his discoveries new for the rest of us."--Michael Upchurch, "The Seattle Times""" "Engrossing . . . Like his music, Adams's voice in "Hallelujah Junction" is both playful and thoughtful, unafraid of making big emotional statements but obsessed with making sure those statements are precisely crafted. . . . An original and inspired book."--Wynne Delacoma, "Chicago Sun-Times""" "John Adams is the voice of America . . . thoughtful, amusing, analytical--and a good writer. . . . To read something so intelligent, reasoned, and caring sure feels good these days."--Mark Swed, "Los Angeles Times"

"Thoughtful, amusing, analytical . . . John Adams is the voice of America."--Mark Swede, "Los Angeles Times " ""Hallelujah Junction" stands . . . among the most readably incisive autobiographies of major musical figures."--David Hajdu", The New York Times Book Review"

No book I know of better captures the thrill of a moment of artistic freedom and innovation. . . . This is a book that any aspiring artist, in any medium, should read as a kind of how-to guide to achieving artistic success without losing integrity. . . . A book for anyone who wants to create something--including a self. "David Rollow, The Boston Globe"

How Mr. Adams arrived at this particular harmonic language is largely the subject of his absorbing book, which at times reads like a quest narrative that travels through the whole landscape of twentieth-century music. "Chip McGrath, The New York Times"

A lively, witty prose writer. . . . It's the range of Adams's musical appetites and intellectual hunger that leaves the strongest impression. This is a man who swallows whole new worlds with every fresh project he takes on--and makes his discoveries new for the rest of us. "Michael Upchurch, The Seattle Times"

Engrossing . . . Like his music, Adams's voice in "Hallelujah Junction" is both playful and thoughtful, unafraid of making big emotional statements but obsessed with making sure those statements are precisely crafted. . . . An original and inspired book. "Wynne Delacoma, Chicago Sun-Times"

John Adams is the voice of America . . . thoughtful, amusing, analytical--and a good writer. . . . To read something so intelligent, reasoned, and caring sure feels good these days. "Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times"

Thoughtful, amusing, analytical . . . John Adams is the voice of America. "Mark Swede, Los Angeles Times"

"Hallelujah Junction" stands . . . among the most readably incisive autobiographies of major musical figures. "David Hajdu, The New York Times Book Review""

No book I know of better captures the thrill of a moment of artistic freedom and innovation. . . . This is a book that any aspiring artist, in any medium, should read as a kind of how-to guide to achieving artistic success without losing integrity. . . . A book for anyone who wants to create something--including a self. David Rollow, The Boston Globe

How Mr. Adams arrived at this particular harmonic language is largely the subject of his absorbing book, which at times reads like a quest narrative that travels through the whole landscape of twentieth-century music. Chip McGrath, The New York Times

A lively, witty prose writer. . . . It's the range of Adams's musical appetites and intellectual hunger that leaves the strongest impression. This is a man who swallows whole new worlds with every fresh project he takes on--and makes his discoveries new for the rest of us. Michael Upchurch, The Seattle Times

Engrossing . . . Like his music, Adams's voice in Hallelujah Junction is both playful and thoughtful, unafraid of making big emotional statements but obsessed with making sure those statements are precisely crafted. . . . An original and inspired book. Wynne Delacoma, Chicago Sun-Times

John Adams is the voice of America . . . thoughtful, amusing, analytical--and a good writer. . . . To read something so intelligent, reasoned, and caring sure feels good these days. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times

Thoughtful, amusing, analytical . . . John Adams is the voice of America. Mark Swede, Los Angeles Times

Hallelujah Junction stands . . . among the most readably incisive autobiographies of major musical figures. David Hajdu, The New York Times Book Review

"

"No book I know of better captures the thrill of a moment of artistic freedom and innovation. . . . This is a book that any aspiring artist, in any medium, should read as a kind of how-to guide to achieving artistic success without losing integrity. . . . A book for anyone who wants to create something--including a self." --David Rollow, The Boston Globe

"How Mr. Adams arrived at this particular harmonic language is largely the subject of his absorbing book, which at times reads like a quest narrative that travels through the whole landscape of twentieth-century music." --Chip McGrath, The New York Times

"A lively, witty prose writer. . . . It's the range of Adams's musical appetites and intellectual hunger that leaves the strongest impression. This is a man who swallows whole new worlds with every fresh project he takes on--and makes his discoveries new for the rest of us." --Michael Upchurch, The Seattle Times

"Engrossing . . . Like his music, Adams's voice in Hallelujah Junction is both playful and thoughtful, unafraid of making big emotional statements but obsessed with making sure those statements are precisely crafted. . . . An original and inspired book." --Wynne Delacoma, Chicago Sun-Times

"John Adams is the voice of America . . . thoughtful, amusing, analytical--and a good writer. . . . To read something so intelligent, reasoned, and caring sure feels good these days." --Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times

"Thoughtful, amusing, analytical . . . John Adams is the voice of America." --Mark Swede, Los Angeles Times

"Hallelujah Junction stands . . . among the most readably incisive autobiographies of major musical figures." --David Hajdu, The New York Times Book Review

Review:

A particular fascination of this book is the winding road on which he absorbed everything while slowly discovering his voice...Adams suggest that Frank Zappa's memoirs stand alongside Berlioz's as "one of the few genuinely original literary works about music"; Hallelujah Junction is in their vicinity.

About this edition

• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0571231160
• ISBN 13: 9780571231164
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352