An NPR Radiolab show. Composer John Luther Adams - referencing Zappa, Varese, and bird songs.

[davd_indigo]

I caught a small part of this show , a rebroadcast, on the day after Christmas. It captured my interest. Unfortunately I was someplace in my car and couldn't listen to the whole podcast. But he talks about in his youth hearing Frank Zappa refer to Edgard Varese. I like what he says about listening to Varese and sort of organically developing a way to digest what he was hearing.

 

Also, imitating birds singing in his compositions was intriguing. I've wondered if bird songs have influenced the music of cultures at some time in the past. So I found this podcast fascinating in a variety of ways.

 

Some of you may find this interesting.

 

http://www.radiolab.org/story/john-luther-adams/