Tom Johnson An Hour for Piano

Today, Adam Tendler performs two seminal minimalist masterpieces for solo piano, John Adams’s epic Phrygian Gates (1977-78) at 2pm, and Tom Johnson’s haunting An Hour for Piano (1971) at 4pm. Both works challenged conventions of long-form piano writing, and each uniquely invites the listener on an odyssey of pattern and harmony that is at times sensuous, dramatic, playful, ecstatic, patient — and ultimately transcendent. For these performances, the audience will be invited to freely explore the new Bargemusic space. This program is in memory of the recent passing of Tom Johnson, a personal friend of the pianist.

with Adam Tendler, piano