Of the literature that we have been exposed to this past week or two, John Adams’ On the Transmigration of Souls was, to me, the most powerful, and fully embraced the sorrow of the attacks on September 11th. Various musical tools are used by adams to capture the different tones and emotions of the day. The children’s Choir, often used in contemporary music, to evoke sadness, does just that. The tone of the music becomes much eerier when the adult choir enters and sings almost ‘Mozart’ like chords. Also, the sparse melodies of the orchestra give the piece tonality.
After hearing this piece i couldn’t help but think of Adams’ task in writing this piece. With 50 or so different parts, it is complicated, yet it is kept simple by the form of his writing. He also has the daunting task of writing a peace that serves homage to the dead, a sort of funeral or musical elegy for al of the victims of that terrible day. The piece is inspiring and beautiful, and, in my opinion does justice to emulate the events of the day.
In regards to the texts that we have read recently, I felt that “The Limits of Remembrance” was the most interesting. It made me think of the difference between first and second hand accounts of certain events. We, have the firsthand images of 9/11 burned into our minds and, when our generation passes there will no longer be a firsthand personal account of the events. The will go straight from our minds into the worlds new History Textbooks.

-John Cleary