If you are familiar with the BBC Ten Pieces, you will enjoy this KS2 Music quiz about Adams' Short Ride In A Fast Machine. This piece might fairly be described as a 'shot of musical adrenalin'.
"You know how it is when someone asks you to ride in a terrific sports car, and then you wish you hadn't?" This quote is by John Adams about the title. Have you ever been in a fast sports car? Would you like to?
Short Ride In A Fast Machine was performed at the BBC Proms in 2004 and again in 2014.
Let's look a bit more closely under this piece of music's 'bonnet'!
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You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC - KS2: John Adams - Short Ride in a Fast Machine
It is among the 'tightest' sounds in the percussion section; versions at three different pitches are called for in this piece.
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... invented by Maelzel 200 years ago, in 1815.
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... From the Italian term for 'stubborn', or as we'd say, 'obstinate'.
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They mix well into the overall sound mostly, but if you follow the score you can try listening out for them. Officially their parts are optional but for a more authentic performance they are usually included.
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The sound of the trumpet is classically ear-catching and may be taken powerfully to suggest the idea of car-horns (especially when playing discords!).
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Its distinctive tone quality might be described as starting with the purity of a bell or chime-bar, but with a fairly gentle 'wobble' during the resonance that follows. Its 'home context' might more generally be regarded as in jazz bands or nightclubs.
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It has only been 'out' just under 30 years (at time of writing) but is clearly regarded as a classic.
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This has obviously moved on since the ceremonial use of trumpets etc. to alert people to the arrival of someone important (e.g. the King in a Shakespeare play). The urgency of the trumpets and others in this Adams piece probably puts you more in mind of a car-chase in a film! (Not such a surprise once the title has planted such ideas in your head.) He came up with the piece after having regretted accepting a friend's offer of a ride in a high-performance sports car.
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This was at Great Woods. Imagine the excitement!
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The great 'machine' of the piece begins to soar towards the closing seconds. We hope you enjoyed the ride!
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