Born February 15, 1947

John Adams is known as one of the most

popular and most preformed composers in
America
He was raised in various New England states
where he was influenced by much of New
England music.
. Adams started composing music at the age
of ten, and heard his first orchestra piece at
14 years old.
In 1965 John Adams studied at Harvard
University where he earned two degrees (BA
1971, MA 1972)
Adams was the first Harvard student to
submit a musical composition as a senior
honors thesis
His compositions strongly influenced
minimalism, became tempered by expressive
elements
After earning his two degrees from Harvard
he moved to Northern California in 1971
While Adams was at the Conservatory in San
Francisco he also worked at an electronic
music studio and conductor of New
Ensemble.
While Adams was at the Conservatory in San
Francisco he also worked at an electronic
music studio and conductor of New
Ensemble.
John Adams still composes today with his
most recent work City Noir (2009) for
orchestra
He also composed On the Transmigration of
Souls (2002). This piece commemorates
those who lost their lives in the terrorist
attacks on September 11, 2001
Adams was the only composer to have been
awarded three times, previously won the
award for El Dorado (1998) and Nixon in
China (1989).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tv3hrZm
cEk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVbrriSUk
oQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RAE3fsD
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Some of John Adams most famous work
includes Short Ride in a Fast Machine (1986),
On the Transmigration of Souls (2002), this
piece commemorating the victims of the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, this
piece won the Pulitzer Prize in 2003
His most known operas include Nixon in
China (1987), which recounts Richard Nixons
1972 visit to china.
Adams first opera was Nixon in China (1987).
This piece was inspired by U.S President
Richard Nixons Visit to China in 1972. The
Opera was premiered at the Houston Grand
Opera on October 22, 1987.
Adams began writing On the Transmigration
of Souls piece in January 2002. This piece
tribute for the victims of the September 11
th

terrorist attacks on the world trade centers in
New York City.
John Adams opera Nixon in china, you can
hear flutes at 0:00 on Act I Scene 1 at 0:41
you can hear the drums in the background
hitting. At 0:48 you can hear trumpets and
clarinets playing. At 1:41 is when the
instruments really die down and the vocals
start playing. At 1:52 you can hear a key
board playing in the background. 2:23 you
can hear the violins playing while one of the
singers is singing.
http://www.earbox.com/biography
http://johnadamscomposer.com/
http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/compos
er/short-bio/10
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Adams_(co
mposer)