Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Encyclopedia
Short Ride in a Fast Machine (Fanfare for Great Woods) is a musical piece composed by John Adams. The piece has now become one of the most frequently requested and performed encores in American concert-halls. It was commissioned by the Great Woods Festival for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
's opening concert led by American conductor Michael Tilson Thomas
at Great Woods in Mansfield, Massachusetts
on 13 June 1986. The music consists of a succession of chordal passages against a consistent beat on wood block
s, and gives the impression of a single long-delayed cadence
.
It has twice been scheduled for inclusion in the Last Night of the Proms in the United Kingdom
. On both occasions it was removed from the concert as it was felt to be inappropriate: first in the wake of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales
in 1997, and four years later just days after the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack. Finally it was heard at the Blue Peter
Prom
on July 26, 2004 and at the Doctor Who Prom
(Prom 10) on July 24, 2010.
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra's home is Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District.-History:...
's opening concert led by American conductor Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is currently music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra.-Early years:...
at Great Woods in Mansfield, Massachusetts
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Mansfield is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population is 23,184. Mansfield is in the south-southwest suburbs of Boston and is also close to Providence, Rhode Island....
on 13 June 1986. The music consists of a succession of chordal passages against a consistent beat on wood block
Wood block
A woodblock is essentially a small piece of slit drum made from a single piece of wood and used as a percussion instrument. It is struck with a stick, making a characteristically percussive sound....
s, and gives the impression of a single long-delayed cadence
Cadence (music)
In Western musical theory, a cadence is, "a melodic or harmonic configuration that creates a sense of repose or resolution [finality or pause]." A harmonic cadence is a progression of two chords that concludes a phrase, section, or piece of music...
.
It has twice been scheduled for inclusion in the Last Night of the Proms in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. On both occasions it was removed from the concert as it was felt to be inappropriate: first in the wake of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
in 1997, and four years later just days after the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack. Finally it was heard at the Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
Prom
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
on July 26, 2004 and at the Doctor Who Prom
Doctor Who Prom (2010)
The Doctor Who Prom 2010 was a concert showcasing incidental music from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, along with classical music, performed as part of the BBC's Proms series of concerts...
(Prom 10) on July 24, 2010.
External links
- "Proms climax changed after US attack" − The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, 13 September 2001 - Blue Peter Prom, 2004