Composer

:

John Adams

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Tone Poem

Compose Date

:

2002

Average_duration

:

24:18

On the Transmigration of Souls is a choral work composed by John Adams in 2002. It was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic to commemorate the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The piece premiered on September 19, 2002, at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City, with Lorin Maazel conducting the New York Philharmonic. The work is divided into three movements, with the first and third movements featuring a chorus and the second movement being an instrumental interlude. The first movement, titled "The Souls of the Lost," features a chorus singing the names of the victims of the attacks, interspersed with recordings of people searching for their loved ones in the aftermath of the attacks. The second movement, titled "On the Transmigration of Souls," is an instrumental interlude that features recordings of people talking about their experiences on September 11. The third movement, titled "The Loved Ones," features a chorus singing texts from missing persons posters and messages left on memorial walls. The work is characterized by its use of recorded sounds and voices, which are integrated into the music to create a sense of realism and immediacy. The use of recordings also serves to create a sense of community and shared experience, as the voices of the victims and their loved ones are heard alongside the music. On the Transmigration of Souls is a deeply emotional work that seeks to capture the grief and loss felt by those affected by the September 11 attacks. It is a powerful tribute to the victims and a reminder of the importance of coming together in times of tragedy.

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