John Adams and Minimalism
9. What early work first established John Adams’s distinctive approach to Minimalism?
Shaker Loops (1978), originally composed for seven string instruments, was one of John Adams's first major successes and helped establish his distinctive musical voice. Its rapidly repeated notes, overlapping rhythmic patterns, and dramatic surges of energy reveal how Adams was transforming Minimalism into something more expressive and dramatic.
Andrew Manze conducts the hr-Sinfonieorchester in “Shaking and Trembling” from Shaker Loops
10. What distinguishes John Adams’s work from that of the earlier Minimalists?