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| Gnarly Buttons/Alleged Dances | 
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| Creators: Steven Smith [1], John Orford, Christopher Van Kampen, Joan Jeanrenaud, Michael Collins, Michael Collins [clarinet], John Adams, Lynda Houghton, Gareth Hulse, Kronos Quartet, London Sinfonietta, Dave Maric, David Maric, Shelagh Sutherland, David Purser, Hank Dutt, Roger Chase
Label: Nonesuch
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $10.90
You Save: $6.08 (36%)
Buy New/Used from $4.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  (9 reviews)
Sales Rank: 136523
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 5.8 x 5.1 x 1.3
MPN: 79465
UPC: 075597946529
EAN: 0075597946529
ASIN: B000006E4G
Release Date: April 21, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 6-9 of 9 | | « PREV | | |
 Excellent CD October 20, 2000
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Good heavens, classical music can be fun? Apparently. John Adams, in this recording, has shown that classical music does not have to be the austere serialism we're so used to. And yet, the music is still top-notch. Gnarly Buttons, is a wonderful small ensemble piece, and John's Book of Alleged Dances is for string quartet and foot-controlled sampler. Don't let the funny names mislead you; it's great music and a terrific album
A complete success June 18, 2000
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
As a great fan of both John Adams and Kronos Quartet, I am in awe of this CD. Gnarly Buttons is a wonderful clarinet/small ensemble piece. However, it is John's Book of Alleged Dances that makes this CD shine. Adams has (once again) shown that classical pieces do not have to be the dull, serious, angst-filled works that leave the audience depressed. His "Book of Alleged Dances" is a group of fun, well-written pieces for string quartet and, get this, foot-controlled sampler. John Adams, you are amazing!
Quality work and a must have for an Adams fan January 18, 1999
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I'd give it 5 stars to off-set the average rating, but I'll leave breathing room. The title work, Gnarly Buttons (essentially a clarinet concerto with small ensemble), surely is based on "popish" themes ["folkish" would be a better characterization], especially the final movement "Put your loving arms around me". In fact, the main melody seems to mimic in tone, pitch, and rythm, the words "put your loving arms around me," to the point where it must have been deliberate. But every bad association one can have with pop music does not apply: there is a genuine development behind the music, and add to that the unique orcehstration. As for John's Book of Alleged Dances, these are wonderful "dances" and rythmicaly fascinating to follow (particular passages stand out, for instance 0:34 on track 5). Don't let the silly names (nor the fuzzy samples offered on this site) fool you: this is not a repeat of Hoodoo Zypher, Adams' foray into total electronic music that I'm sure many of his listners regret buying.
 Quartet is a dud! January 10, 1999
2 out of 16 found this review helpful
One had great expectations for this Adams string quartet. Alas -- we get yet another (failed) attempt of Adams' to write pop tunes. Has he given up on writing concert works?
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