China Gates
Encyclopedia
China Gates is a short piano
piece composed by the minimalist
American composer John Adams
in 1977. Adams wrote this work as a companion piece to his Phrygian Gates
, dating from the same period. Phrygian Gates is the longer of the two pieces and uses many of the same techniques as China Gates, but in terms of structure the two pieces have little in common.
The piece is one of Adams' first mature works, which he wrote for the then 17-year-old pianist Sarah Cahill
during a rainy season in northern California
. Adams himself has suggested that the constant eighth notes of the piece reflect the steady rainfall of the time. The bass notes of the piece form the root of the mode, while the upper voices oscillate between different modes. K. Robert Schwarz has noted how the style of China Gates is in keeping with the ideas of "process music
" of Steve Reich
.
The piece is written in three parts. In the first part, the modes alternate between A-flat mixolydian and G-sharp aeolian
, which sounds almost like the major and minor versions of the same key. The third part alternates between F lydian
and F locrian
. The second part alternates more rapidly between all four modes. Adams has described the structure of the work as an "almost perfect palindrome".
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
piece composed by the minimalist
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
American composer John Adams
John Coolidge Adams
John Coolidge Adams is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer with strong roots in minimalism. His best-known works include Short Ride in a Fast Machine , On the Transmigration of Souls , a choral piece commemorating the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks , and Shaker...
in 1977. Adams wrote this work as a companion piece to his Phrygian Gates
Phrygian Gates
Phrygian Gates is a piano piece written by minimalist composer John Coolidge Adams in 1977-1978.The piece, together with its smaller companion China Gates is what is considered Adams' "opus one". They are, according to his own claims, his first compositions consisting of a coherent personal style...
, dating from the same period. Phrygian Gates is the longer of the two pieces and uses many of the same techniques as China Gates, but in terms of structure the two pieces have little in common.
The piece is one of Adams' first mature works, which he wrote for the then 17-year-old pianist Sarah Cahill
Sarah Cahill (pianist)
Sarah Cahill , an American pianist born in Washington, D.C., is a long-time resident of Berkeley, California. She is best known for performances of new works, many of them written for her...
during a rainy season in northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Adams himself has suggested that the constant eighth notes of the piece reflect the steady rainfall of the time. The bass notes of the piece form the root of the mode, while the upper voices oscillate between different modes. K. Robert Schwarz has noted how the style of China Gates is in keeping with the ideas of "process music
Process music
Process music is music that arises from a process. It may make that process audible to the listener, or the process may be concealed. Primarily begun in the 1960s, diverse composers have employed divergent methods and styles of process...
" of Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
.
The piece is written in three parts. In the first part, the modes alternate between A-flat mixolydian and G-sharp aeolian
Aeolian mode
The Aeolian mode is a musical mode or, in modern usage, a diatonic scale called the natural minor scale.The word "Aeolian" in the music theory of ancient Greece was an alternative name for what Aristoxenus called the Low Lydian tonos , nine semitones...
, which sounds almost like the major and minor versions of the same key. The third part alternates between F lydian
Lydian mode
The Lydian musical scale is a rising pattern of pitches comprising three whole tones, a semitone, two more whole tones, and a final semitone. This sequence of pitches roughly describes the fifth of the eight Gregorian modes, known as Mode V or the authentic mode on F, theoretically using B but in...
and F locrian
Locrian mode
The Locrian mode is either a musical mode or simply a diatonic scale. Although the term occurs in several classical authors on music theory, including Cleonides and Athenaeus , there is no warrant for the modern usage of Locrian as equivalent to Glarean's Hyperaeolian mode, in either classical,...
. The second part alternates more rapidly between all four modes. Adams has described the structure of the work as an "almost perfect palindrome".
Recordings
- Albany TROY 038: Christopher O'RileyChristopher O'RileyChristopher O'Riley is an American classical pianist and public radio show host. He is the host of the weekly National Public Radio program From the Top. O'Riley is also known for his piano arrangements of songs by alternative artists....
, piano - Telarc CD-80513: Gloria Cheng-Cochran, piano
- Nonesuch 79699: Nicolas HodgesNicolas HodgesNicolas Hodges is a British pianist and composer. He specializes in avant garde music. He was educated at Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford, Winchester College, and the University of Cambridge....
, piano - Black Box Classics 1098: Andrew Russo, piano
- Naxos 8.55928: Ralph van Raat, piano