Composer

:

John Adams

Genre

:

Concerto

Compose Date

:

2012

First Performance

:

March 15, 2012

Average_duration

:

25:38

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

Absolute Jest is a composition by John Adams, an American composer, and conductor. It was composed in 2011 and premiered on March 15, 2012, by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting. The piece is approximately 25 minutes long and is divided into four movements. The first movement, titled "Prelude: Attention Must Be Paid," is a short introduction that sets the tone for the rest of the piece. It features a solo violin playing a series of ascending and descending scales, which are then echoed by the rest of the orchestra. The second movement, "My Twentieth Century," is a lively and energetic scherzo that features a number of musical quotations from the 20th century. These include references to Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The third movement, "Absolut(e) Scherzo," is a fast and frenetic scherzo that features a number of musical jokes and puns. It includes a section where the orchestra plays a series of ascending and descending scales, which are then interrupted by a solo cello playing a series of glissandos. The final movement, "Aeolian Counterpoint," is a slow and contemplative piece that features a solo string quartet. The quartet plays a series of long, sustained notes, which are then echoed and transformed by the rest of the orchestra. Overall, Absolute Jest is a playful and inventive piece that showcases Adams' unique style and musical sensibility. It combines elements of classical music with references to popular culture and contemporary music, creating a work that is both accessible and challenging.

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