David Dalle
Thursday July 25th, 2019 with David Dalle
Become Desert, John Luther Adams' most recent work which is "both a celebration of the deserts we are given and a lamentation of the deserts we create." Other desert music.

American composer John Luther Adams has followed on from his 2014 "Become Ocean" to his new work "Become Desert", again commissioned by the Seattle Symphony who also records it with conductor Ludovic Morlot. Central to John Luther Adams' music has always been his connection with natural places and the environment, and the changing climate is at the forefront of these two works. Though "Become Desert" is for even larger forces than the apocalyptic "Become Ocean" with the addition of a choir, it is much more fragile and really asks the listener to just pause and listen in the present. The music gives an enormous sense of space, which might initially seem empty, but as the music expands over a grand vista you become aware of how rich and full it is, building slowly and almost imperceptibly to its magnificent apotheosis. It is music to disappear in and feel like the horizon truly is infinite. I am finding I love to listen to it several times in a row. Adams says "Become Desert is both a celebration of the deserts we are given and a lamentation of the deserts we create."