Dates

• 11 Dec 2025, 7:30 p.m., The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, Tickets
• 12 Dec 2025, 7:30 p.m., City Halls, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, Tickets

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Repertoire Shaker Loops, by John Adams; Gnarly Buttons, by John Adams; Fearful Symmetries, by John Adams

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Description

Once a self-identifying minimalist, radical American composer John Adams quickly jumped from cool, hypnotic pulsations to red-hot emotion and vast cinematic soundscapes in his colourful, witty music. Experience that thrilling journey in three iconic pieces by this pioneering musician.

Minimalist classic Shaker Loops is a rippling soundscape of quivering energy – sometimes frenetic, sometimes meditative, but never less than mesmerisingly beautiful.

Mooing cows and ancient American hymns are among the inspirations behind Adams’ zany clarinet concerto Gnarly Buttons – played by charismatic SCO Principal Clarinet Maximiliano Martín – which blends humour and heart in music that spans jazz, pop, folk and the surging repetitions of minimalism. Fearful Symmetries is one of Adams’ boldest and brightest pieces, a high-energy workout of driving rhythms and larger-than-life orchestral sound.

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Performers Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Maximiliano Martin, Andrew Manze

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Promoter Scottish Chamber Orchestra

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Submitted by Scottish Chamber Orchestra