John's Book of Alleged Dances
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John's Book of Alleged Dances is a composition by John Coolidge Adams for string quartet and recorded prepared piano. The first performance took place November 19, 1994, at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, California. The work was commissioned and premiered by the Kronos Quartet. The recorded prepared piano tracks were originally activated by one of the quartet player using peddle operated sampler. This was eventually replaced by a prerecorded CD track.
John Adams has said that the dances are alleged because “the steps for them had yet to be invented.” John's Book of Alleged Dances is approximately 25 minutes in length and is composed of ten humorously titled “dances” that can be played in any order. The movement titles are as follows:
- Judah to Ocean
- Toot Nipple
- Dogjam
- Pavane: She’s So Fine
- Rag the Bone
- Habanera
- Stubble Crotchet
- Hammer & Chisel
- Alligator Escalator
- Ständchen: The Little Serenade
Selections from John’s book of Alleged Dances have been choreographed by a number of choreographers, including Paul Taylor. Boosey and Hawkes plans to release a study score of this piece at some point. No information about when this might take place is currently available.
[edit] See Also
- John Coolidge Adams
- Sampler (musical instrument)
- String Quartet
- Kronos Quartet
- Minimalism
- Postminimalism
