I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky
I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky | |
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"Song play" by John Adams | |
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Librettist | June Jordan |
I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky is a 1995 "song play" with music composed by John Adams and a libretto by June Jordan.[1]
Summary[]
The story takes place in the aftermath of the 1994 earthquake[2] in Los Angeles, and covers the reactions of all characters to the event.[3]
The main characters are seven young Americans all living in Los Angeles but from different social and ethnic backgrounds.[4][5]
Style[]
According to the composer, the all song and ensemble piece is "a Broadwaystyle show" fused with gospel,[6] pop ballad, the blues, doo-wop and popular song.[7]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Review: John Adams’ ‘Ceiling/Sky’ remains earthbound - Los Angeles Times
- ^ What's Shakin' With Adams And Sellars? / Composer and director team anew -- this time with poet June Jordan -- an earthquake-inspired love story / `I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky'|SFGate
- ^ AllMusic
- ^ "Adams I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky". Gramophone. February 1999. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ Meisel, Myron (August 25, 2014). "'I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky': Opera Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ CD: Adams: I Was Looking at the Ceiling|Music|The Guardian
- ^ Adams, J: I was looking at the ceiling and then I saw the sky - Presto Classical
External links[]
Categories:
- Operas by John Adams (composer)
- English-language operas
- 1995 operas
- Operas
- Operas set in the United States
- Los Angeles in fiction
- Fiction set in 1994
- Operas set in the 20th century