Short bio John Luther Adams
Full biography John Luther Adams
John Luther Adams is an American composer who was born on January 23, 1953. He is known for his music that is inspired by nature, particularly the landscapes of Alaska, where he lived for many years. Adams has won numerous awards for his compositions, including the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2014 for his orchestral work "Become Ocean."
Adams' music often features long, sustained tones, creating a sense of vastness and a connection to the natural world. He has also explored the use of unconventional instruments and found objects in his compositions. Some of his notable works include "Dark Waves," "Inuksuit," and "Canticles of the Holy Wind."
In addition to his music, Adams is also known for his writing. He has published several books on music and the environment, including his memoir "Silences So Deep: Music, Solitude, Alaska." He has also written articles and essays on a variety of topics, including the intersection of music and the environment.
Adams' work reflects his deep connection to nature and his concern for the environment. He has long been inspired by the landscapes of Alaska and has used his music to draw attention to issues such as climate change and environmental degradation. Despite his success as a composer, Adams remains committed to using his art to make a positive impact on the world.
Compositions featuring John Luther Adams
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houses of the Wind, for electronics | 52:46 min | Electronic/Computer Music | 2021 |
| 2 | Become Desert, for chorus & orchestra | 40:22 min | Choral | 2017 |
| 3 | Canticles of the Holy Wind, for soloists & 4 choruses | 66:20 min | Choral | 2013 |
| 4 | Dream of the Canyon Wren, for string quartet | 7:40 min | Chamber Music | 2013 |
| 5 | Sila: The Breath of the World, for vocal ensemble, winds, brass, percussion & strings | 57:05 min | Vocal Music | 2013 |
| 6 | Tukiliit, for piano | 6:46 min | Keyboard | 2011 |
| 7 | The Wind in High Places, for string quartet | 18:31 min | Chamber Music | 2011 |
| 8 | Become River, for chamber orchestra | 14:54 min | Orchestral | 2010 |
| 9 | Sky with Four Suns, for chorus (or string quartet) | 4:05 min | Choral | 2010 |
| 10 | Three High Places, for violin | 12:08 min | Chamber Music | 2007 |
| 11 | Dark Waves, for 2 pianos & electronics | 12:29 min | Keyboard | 2007 |
| 12 | for Lou Harrison, for string quartet, string orchestra & 2 pianos | 62:59 min | Chamber Music | 2004 |
| 13 | The Mathematics of Resonant Bodies, for solo percussion & processed sounds | 69:09 min | Chamber Music | 2002 |
| 14 | Red Arc/Blue Veil, for piano, mallet percussion & processed sounds | 12:31 min | Chamber Music | 2002 |
| 15 | The Farthest Place | 10:53 min | Chamber Music | 2001 |
| 16 | Dark Wind, for bass clarinet, vibraphone, marimba & piano | 13:21 min | Chamber Music | 2001 |
| 17 | Among Red Mountains, for piano | 11:07 min | Keyboard | 2001 |
| 18 | The Immeasurable Space of Tones | 27:01 min | Orchestral | 1999 |
| 19 | In a Treeless Place, Only Snow, for string quartet, piano, celeste & 2 vibraphones | 17:28 min | Chamber Music | 1999 |
| 20 | Qilyuan, for 4 bass drums (or bass drum with digital delay) | 15:38 min | Chamber Music | 1998 |
| 21 | The Light that Fills the World | 12:58 min | Orchestral | 1998 |
| 22 | In the White Silence, for celeste, harp, string quartet, 2 vibraphones & orchestra (or string quintet) | 75:07 min | Orchestral | 1998 |
| 23 | Yup'ik Dances (5), for harp | 10:06 min | Chamber Music | 1995 |
| 24 | Athabascan Dances (5), for harp | 12:58 min | Chamber Music | 1995 |
| 25 | Dream in White on White for string quartet, string orchestra & harp | 16:30 min | Orchestral | 1992 |
| 26 | Clouds of Forgetting, Clouds of Unknowing for chamber orchestra | 61:23 min | Orchestral | 1991 |
| 27 | Strange and Sacred Noise, 6 pieces for percussion quartet | 73:05 min | Chamber Music | 1991 |
| 28 | Earth and the Great Weather: A Sonic Geography of the Arctic | 75:44 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1990 |
| 29 | Strange Birds Passing, for ensemble | 6:42 min | Chamber Music | 1983 |
| 30 | Songbirdsongs, for 2 piccolos & 3 percussionists | 38:39 min | Chamber Music | 1979 |
| 31 | Night Peace for soprano voice, chorus, harp & percussion | 14:55 min | Choral | 1977 |
| 32 | ...and bells remembered..., for ensemble | 10:06 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 33 | In a room, soundscape | 8:35 min | Electronic/Computer Music | - |
| 34 | Untouched, for string quartet | 24:29 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 35 | A Weeping of Doves, for 8 cellos | 5:25 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 36 | Arctic Dreams, for vocal ensemble, violin, viola, cello, double bass & electronics | 43:49 min | Choral | - |
| 37 | At the still point, soundscape | 12:31 min | Electronic/Computer Music | - |
| 38 | The place we began, soundscape | 8:15 min | Electronic/Computer Music | - |
| 39 | Become Ocean, for orchestra | 42:13 min | Orchestral | - |
| 40 | Canticles of the Sky, for 4 choruses | 17:44 min | Choral | - |
| 41 | Cathedrals in the Desert, for chorus, cello & percussion (for collaborative film score "The Colorado") | 6:40 min | Choral | - |
| 42 | The Far Country of Sleep, for orchestra | 16:42 min | Orchestral | - |
| 43 | Everything That Rises, for string quartet | 56:21 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 44 | Lines Made by Walking, for string quartet | 30:15 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 45 | Inuksuit, for percussion | 59:59 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 46 | Four Thousand Holes, for bells, vibraphone, piano & electronics | 32:51 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 47 | In the rain, soundscape | 8:58 min | Electronic/Computer Music | - |
| 48 | Ilimaq, electroacoustic soundscape for percussion | 47:58 min | Chamber Music | - |
Albums featuring John Luther Adams
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
John Luther Adams, Robert Black – Darkness And Scattered Light(CD, Album) | 2023 | Cold Blue Music |
| 2 |  |
Sila: The Breath Of The World(CD, Album) | 2022 | Cantaloupe Music |
| 3 |  |
Houses Of The Wind | 2022 | Cold Blue Music |
| 4 |  |
Arctic Dreams(CD, Album) | 2021 | Cold Blue Music |
| 5 |  |
Lines Made by Walking(CD, Album) | 2020 | Cold Blue Music |
| 6 |  |
John Luther Adams, Ludovic Morlot, Seattle Symphony – The Become Trilogy(3×CD, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered) | 2020 | Cantaloupe Music |
| 7 |  |
John Luther Adams, Seattle Symphony, Ludovic Morlot – Become Desert(CD, Album, DVD, DVD-Video) | 2019 | Cantaloupe Music |
| 8 |  |
Oliver Coates, John Luther Adams – Canticles Of The Sky / Three High Places(8×File, MP3, Album) | 2019 | RVNG INTL. |
| 9 |  |
Oliver Coates, John Luther Adams – Canticles Of The Sky(12", 45 RPM) | 2018 | Rvng Intl. |
| 10 |  |
Ian Pace (2), Simon Limbrick - György Ligeti, Michael Zev Gordon, John Luther Adams, Luciano Berio, Michael Pisaro – Floating, Drifting(CD, ) | 2018 | Louth Contemporary Music Society |
| 11 |  |
Everything That Rises(CD, ) | 2018 | Cold Blue Music |
| 12 |  |
Canticles Of The Holy Wind(CD, ) | 2017 | Cantaloupe Music |
| 13 |  |
The Wind In High Places(CD, Album) | 2015 | Cold Blue Music |
| 14 |  |
John Luther Adams, Glenn Kotche – Ilimaq(CD, Album, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel) | 2015 | Cantaloupe Music |
| 15 |  |
John Luther Adams, Seattle Symphony, Ludovic Morlot – Become Ocean(CD, Album, DVD, DVD-Video) | 2014 | Cantaloupe Music |
| 16 |  |
Mark Pekarsky Percussion Ensemble, Ives, Harrison, Hovhaness, Cage, Adams – Percussion Instruments In 20th Century American Music(CD, Album) | 2014 | Moscow Conservatory Records |
| 17 |  |
Inuksuit(CD, Album, DVD, DVD-Video) | 2013 | Cantaloupe Music |
| 18 |  |
Songbirdsongs(CD, Album) | 2012 | Mode |
| 19 |  |
Four Thousand Holes(CD, Album) | 2011 | Cold Blue Music |
| 20 |  |
The Place We Began(CD, Album) | 2009 | Cold Blue Music |
| 21 |  |
The Place Where You Go To Listen - Interactive Guide(CDr, CD-ROM) | 2007 | University Of Alaska Museum Of The North |
| 22 |  |
Red Arc / Blue Veil(CD, Album) | 2007 | Cold Blue Music |
| 23 |  |
For Lou Harrison(CD, ) | 2007 | New World Records |
| 24 |  |
John Luther Adams - Steven Schick – The Mathematics Of Resonant Bodies(CD, Album) | 2006 | Cantaloupe Music |
| 25 |  |
Strange And Sacred Noise | 2005 | Mode |
| 26 |  |
Winter Music(CD, ) | 2004 | Wesleyan University Press |
| 27 |  |
In The White Silence | 2003 | New World Records |
| 28 |  |
John Luther Adams / Rick Cox / Michael Jon Fink / Jim Fox (4) – Adams / Cox / Fink / Fox(CD, Album) | 2002 | Cold Blue Music |
| 29 |  |
The Light That Fills The World(CD, Album) | 2002 | Cold Blue Music |
| 30 |  |
Clouds Of Forgetting, Clouds Of Unknowing(CD, ) | 1997 | New World Records |
| 31 |  |
Earth And The Great Weather: A Sonic Geography Of The Arctic(CD, Album) | 1994 | New World Records |
| 32 |  |
The Far Country | 1993 | New Albion |
| 33 |  |
John Luther Adams, Arctic Chamber Orchestra, Arctic Chamber Choir, Byron McGilvray – Forest Without Leaves(LP, Stereo) | 1987 | Owl Recording, Inc |
| 34 |  |
John Adams, Arctic Chamber Orchestra, Atlanta Singers – A Northern Suite / Night Peace | 1983 | Opus One |
| 35 |  |
Songbirdsongs(LP) | 1982 | Opus One |
Videos featuring John Luther Adams
John Luther Adams Night Peace (excerpt)
The Far Country
New Albion NA061CD, 1993
Lines Made by Walking: I. Up the Mountain
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Lines Made by Walking: I. Up the Mountain · JACK Quartet
John Luther Adams: Lines Made by Walking
℗ 2020 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2020-09-18
Ensemble: JACK Quartet
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-gener
Everything That Rises
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Everything That Rises · JACK Quartet
John Luther Adams: Everything That Rises
℗ 2018 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2018-02-16
Ensemble: JACK Quartet
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Canticles of the Sky: I. Sky with Four Suns
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Canticles of the Sky: I. Sky with Four Suns · Northwestern University Cello Ensemble
The Wind in High Places
℗ 2015 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2015-01-01
Conductor: Hans Jørgen Jensen
Ensemble: Northweste
John Luther Adams - The Light that fills The World
Music: John Luther Adams - The Light that fills The World
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/john-luther-adams-light-that/id202855043
Painting: Caspar David Friedrich - The Monk by the Sea
https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/u/0/asset-viewer/monk-b
Four Thousand Holes
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Four Thousand Holes · Stephen Drury
Four Thousand Holes
℗ 2011 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2011-04-01
Artist: Stephen Drury
Artist: Scott Deal
Artist: John Luther Adams
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-gen
... Dust into Dust...
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
... Dust into Dust... · Percussion Group Cincinnati
John Luther Adams: Strange and Sacred Noise
℗ 2005 Mode Records
Released on: 2005-10-18
Ensemble: Percussion Group Cincinnati
Composer: John Luther Adams
John Luther Adams - Songbirdsongs - 5 - Mourning Dove
John Luther Adams - Forest For The Trees LP (1987)
Rare LP
Arctic Chamber Orchestra and Arctic Choir
Byron McGilvray, Conductor
Owl Recording, Inc. 1987
John Luther Adams: for Lou Harrison (Beginning to Letter H)
Stephen Drury (director), Callithumpian Consort of the New England Conservatory (orchestra)
“…radiantly beautiful music… Adams’ work here operates at one of the highest levels of concentration and sheer beauty to be found in new music, and anyone
Dark Waves
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Dark Waves · Stephen Drury
Adams: Red Arc/Blue Veil
℗ 2007 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2007-10-01
Artist: Stephen Drury
Artist: Yukiko Takagi
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Canticles of the Holy Wind: I. Sky with Four Suns
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Canticles of the Holy Wind: I. Sky with Four Suns · The Crossing
John Luther Adams: Canticles of the Holy Wind
℗ 2017 Cantaloupe Music
Released on: 2017-05-12
Choir: The Crossing
Conductor: Donald Nally
Comp
John Luther Adams & Glenn Kotche: ILIMAQ
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2WH9qla
Apple Music: http://apple.co/1PYUndU
Amazon (CD+DVD with 5.1 surround): http://amzn.to/1M5yKZU
Bandcamp: https://johnlutheradams.bandcamp.com/album/ilimaq
Filmed on location at Rough Trade NYC (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
G
The Wind in High Places: I. Above Sunset Pass
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
The Wind in High Places: I. Above Sunset Pass · JACK Quartet
The Wind in High Places
℗ 2015 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2015-01-01
Ensemble: JACK Quartet
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTu
In a Room
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
In a Room · John Luther Adams
Adams: The Place We Began
℗ 2009 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2009-05-01
Artist: John Luther Adams
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Sky With Four Suns
Provided to YouTube by BWSCD, Inc.
Sky With Four Suns · Oliver Coates
John Luther Adams’ Canticles of the Sky + Three High Places
℗ 2018 RVNG Intl.
Released on: 2019-05-08
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Become Ocean
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Become Ocean · Seattle Symphony
John Luther Adams: The Become Trilogy
℗ 2020 Cantaloupe Music
Released on: 2020-09-25
Orchestra: Seattle Symphony
Conductor: Ludovic Morlot
Composer: John Luther Adams
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Triadic Iteration Lattices
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Triadic Iteration Lattices · Percussion Group Cincinnati
John Luther Adams: Strange and Sacred Noise
℗ 2005 Mode Records
Released on: 2005-10-18
Ensemble: Percussion Group Cincinnati
Composer: John Luther Ad
Among Red Mountains
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Among Red Mountains · Stephen Drury
Adams: Red Arc/Blue Veil
℗ 2007 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2007-10-01
Artist: Stephen Drury
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Become Desert
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Become Desert · Seattle Symphony
John Luther Adams: The Become Trilogy
℗ 2020 Cantaloupe Music
Released on: 2020-09-25
Orchestra: Seattle Symphony
Choir: Seattle Symphony Chorale
Conductor: Ludovic Morlot
Compo
John Luther Adams - Songbirdsongs - 1 - Wood Thrush
Opus One records 1982
untouched: I. Rising
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
untouched: I. Rising · JACK Quartet
John Luther Adams: Lines Made by Walking
℗ 2020 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2020-09-18
Ensemble: JACK Quartet
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTube.
The Wind in High Places: II. Maclaren Summit
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
The Wind in High Places: II. Maclaren Summit · JACK Quartet
The Wind in High Places
℗ 2015 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2015-01-01
Ensemble: JACK Quartet
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTub
… and bells remembered …
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
… and bells remembered … · Joseph Becker
Four Thousand Holes
℗ 2011 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2011-04-01
Artist: Joseph Becker
Artist: Joseph LaPalomento
Artist: Jeffrey Means
Artist: John Andress
Art
At the Still Point
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
At the Still Point · John Luther Adams
Adams: The Place We Began
℗ 2009 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2009-05-01
Artist: John Luther Adams
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Sky With Four Moons
Provided to YouTube by BWSCD, Inc.
Sky With Four Moons · Oliver Coates
John Luther Adams’ Canticles of the Sky + Three High Places
℗ 2018 RVNG Intl.
Released on: 2019-05-08
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Ilimaq: Untune the Sky
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Ilimaq: Untune the Sky · Glenn Kotche
John Luther Adams: Ilimaq
℗ 2015 Cantaloupe Music
Released on: 2015-10-30
Artist: Glenn Kotche
Artist: John Luther Adams
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by Y
Become River
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Become River · Seattle Symphony
Become River
℗ 2020 Cantaloupe Music
Released on: 2020-09-18
Conductor: Ludovic Morlot
Orchestra: Seattle Symphony
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Qilyuan
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Qilyuan · Scott Deal
Adams: Red Arc/Blue Veil
℗ 2007 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2007-10-01
Artist: Scott Deal
Artist: Stuart Gerber
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTube.
In the Rain
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
In the Rain · John Luther Adams
Adams: The Place We Began
℗ 2009 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2009-05-01
Artist: John Luther Adams
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Ilimaq: Descent
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Ilimaq: Descent · Glenn Kotche
John Luther Adams: Ilimaq
℗ 2015 Cantaloupe Music
Released on: 2015-10-30
Artist: Glenn Kotche
Artist: John Luther Adams
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTube.
John Luther Adams - Triadic Iteration Lattices
from "Strange and Sacred Noise" (Mode, 2005)
John Luther Adams - Songbirdsongs - 4 - August Voices
Opus One records 1982
Oliver Coates - John Luther Adams' Canticles of the Sky - Sky with Nameless Colors
Oliver Coates - John Luther Adams' Canticles of the Sky - Sky with Nameless Colors
Learn more: https://smarturl.it/rvngnl48
©2019 RVNG Intl. // www.igetrvng.com
Red Arc/Blue Veil
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Red Arc/Blue Veil · Stephen Drury
Adams: Red Arc/Blue Veil
℗ 2007 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2007-10-01
Artist: Stephen Drury
Artist: Scott Deal
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTube.
The Place We Began
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
The Place We Began · John Luther Adams
Adams: The Place We Began
℗ 2009 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2009-05-01
Artist: John Luther Adams
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Canticles of the Sky: IV. Sky with Endless Stars
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Canticles of the Sky: IV. Sky with Endless Stars · Northwestern University Cello Ensemble
The Wind in High Places
℗ 2015 Cold Blue Music
Released on: 2015-01-01
Conductor: Hans Jørgen Jensen
Ensemble: North
Sky With Endless Stars
Provided to YouTube by BWSCD, Inc.
Sky With Endless Stars · Oliver Coates
John Luther Adams’ Canticles of the Sky + Three High Places
℗ 2018 RVNG Intl.
Released on: 2019-05-08
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Ilimaq: The Sunken Gamelan
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Ilimaq: The Sunken Gamelan · Glenn Kotche
John Luther Adams: Ilimaq
℗ 2015 Cantaloupe Music
Released on: 2015-10-30
Artist: Glenn Kotche
Artist: John Luther Adams
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated
John Luther Adams - Songbirdsongs - 2 - Morningfieldsong
Opus One records 1982
Ilimaq: Ascension
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Ilimaq: Ascension · Glenn Kotche
John Luther Adams: Ilimaq
℗ 2015 Cantaloupe Music
Released on: 2015-10-30
Artist: Glenn Kotche
Artist: John Luther Adams
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by YouTub
John Luther Adams - Songbirdsongs - 3 - Meadowdance
Opus One records 1982
Above Sunset Pass
Provided to YouTube by BWSCD, Inc.
Above Sunset Pass · Oliver Coates
John Luther Adams’ Canticles of the Sky + Three High Places
℗ 2019 RVNG Intl.
Released on: 2019-05-08
Auto-generated by YouTube.
John Luther Adams - Songbirdsongs - 7 - Not-quitespringdawn
Opus One records 1982
The Wind at Maclaren Summit
Provided to YouTube by BWSCD, Inc.
The Wind at Maclaren Summit · Oliver Coates
John Luther Adams’ Canticles of the Sky + Three High Places
℗ 2019 RVNG Intl.
Released on: 2019-05-08
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Ilimaq: Under the Ice
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Ilimaq: Under the Ice · Glenn Kotche
John Luther Adams: Ilimaq
℗ 2015 Cantaloupe Music
Released on: 2015-10-30
Artist: Glenn Kotche
Artist: John Luther Adams
Composer: John Luther Adams
Auto-generated by Yo
John Luther Adams - Songbirdsongs - 8 - Joyful Noise
Opus One records 1982
Looking Toward Hope
Provided to YouTube by BWSCD, Inc.
Looking Toward Hope · Oliver Coates
John Luther Adams’ Canticles of the Sky + Three High Places
℗ 2019 RVNG Intl.
Released on: 2019-05-08
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Above Sunset Pass (Alt FX Render)
Provided to YouTube by BWSCD, Inc.
Above Sunset Pass (Alt FX Render) · Oliver Coates
John Luther Adams’ Canticles of the Sky + Three High Places
℗ 2019 RVNG Intl.
Released on: 2019-05-08
Auto-generated by YouTube.
John Luther Adams - Songbirdsongs - 9 - Evensong
Opus One records 1982
John Luther Adams - Songbirdsongs - 6 - Apple Blossom Round
Opus One records 1982
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