Short Ride in a Fast Machine and Modern Technology

Short Ride in a Fast Machine- John Adams

This is one of my favorite pieces of all time. Short Ride in a Fast Machine, although not included in the College Humanities book, is a work done by second generation minimalist composer, John Adams. Minimalism originates from America and is a genre of experimental music. It's name is based off of the steady pulse or drones, continuous harmony, and stasis or gradual transformation. It often reiterates musical phrases or smaller figures. As a second generation minimalist, Adams uses more harmonic progression and tonal changes. This piece stands out to me because it is energizing, upbeat, continuous, and constantly in flux.Unlike first generation minimalist music, this song by Adams is going somewhere, however, the continuing pulse makes it seem as if it will never stop. The name, Short Ride in a Fast Machine, is perfect for the imagery that is music evokes.

This music reminds me of modern technology when I hear it. What I mean by modern technology is technology that has been discovered and invented from the mid 20th century to the present. The continuous pulsing rhythm in the music makes me think of the inside of a computer chip or program. One line leads to another and that line leads to another until it all comes back around full circle. The pulsating rhythm in the music is shared throughout the instrument sections, each taking turns and having solo moments. As the music progress, there are times that the low brass play syncopated rhythms providing imagery that the computer is working harder than usual to process data or something. The modulating and constant chord progressions make me think of different processes the computer goes through to share and evaluate the data or command. This song makes me think of a machine, and I think specifically the computer, but that could even be expanded to electricity and where it travels to or a factory or an automobile. This is a song that should catch your attention and make you imagine many different wondrous things.