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Shimmering beauty, complexity and ambition
SIMON DUFF is enthralled by music inspired by Cantor dust, Sierpinski Gasket and intense concern for humanity
John Luther Adams on nocturne

Waves and Particles
John Luther Adams
(Cold Blue Music)

 

Simon Duff recommends a new string quartet work from one of America’s leading composers.
    
COLD BLUE MUSIC is a Southern Californian label releasing contemporary classical and experimental electro acoustic works. Founded by composer and producer Jim Fox in the early 1980s, with political and environmental concerns to the fore.

Composer John Luther Adams’s 11th album for the label is a work for strings performed by the Jack Quartet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnLVGZn_r0s. Set over six movements, it is inspired by quantum physics, fractal geometry and notions of sonic exploration, that the quartet are able realise to full force.

Like a lot of John Luther Adams music, central to his creative philosophy is an ability to seemingly stretch and play with time in a highly original manner.

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