Adams' On The Dominant Divide

Quite an apropros way to kick off this blog.  On The Dominant Divide is the third movement of John Adams' (not the long-since-deceased President of the United States) Grand Pianola Music.  The first two unnamed movements are definitely good, but On The Dominant Divide certainly stands apart from the rest of the piece.  When listening to this movement, there's a distinct triumphant feeling one has.  The image conjured up in my mind by On The Dominant Divide is that shitty ride in the giant ball at Epcot in Florida.  That's probably long since changed, but the piece is reminiscent of a triumphant past with a focus on the future.  There isn't much complexity in regard to underlying melodies, as John Adams is certainly a minimalist composer.

If you want to know how to tell that it's good?  Grand Pianola Music was booed at its premiere.  Yes, the audience actually booed this piece after its performance.  Grand Pianola Music is by no means a "high art" piece and is definitely something altogether different from the likes of Mozart, Mahler and Mendelssohn, but that doesn't mean it isn't a quality piece that is well worth a listen.