Lollapalooza
(1995)
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Lollapalooza ( Full Score)
Lollapalooza (Score & Parts)
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First performed November 10, 1985 by City of Birmingham Symphony conducted by Simon Rattle

piccolo, 2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo) 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 2 tenor trombones, bass trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion (4 players)*, piano, strings
*Percussion 1: xylophone, 3 large roto-toms, suspended cymbal, small tam-tam;
Percussion 2: snare drum (for rim shot only), pedal bass drum, maracas, tambourine, claves
Percussion 3: claves, woodblock, bongo, snare drum, low floor tom
Percussion 4: vibraphone, large bass drum

Duration: 6 minutes

Publisher: Hendon Music (Boosey & Hawkes)

Recordings:
New World Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, cond.,
BMG/RCA 68798

Hallé Orchestra, Kent Nagano, cond.
Nonesuch Records 79607-2

Also on The John Adams Earbox
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John Adams on Lollapalooza

Lollapalooza was written as a fortieth birthday present for Simon Rattle who was been a friend and collaborator for many years. The term "lollapalooza" has an uncertain etymology, and just that vagueness may account for its popularity as an archetypical American word. It suggests something large, outlandish, oversized, not unduly refined. H.L. Mencken suggests it may have originally meant a knockout punch in a boxing match. I was attracted to it because of its internal rhythm: da-da-da-DAAH-da. Hence, in my piece, the word is spelled out in the trombones and tubas, C-C-C-Eb-C (emphasis on the Eb) as a kind of ideé fixe. The "lollapalooza" motive is only one of a profusion of other motives, all appearing and evolving in a repetitive chain of events that moves this dancing behemoth along until it ends in a final shout by the horns and trombones and a terminal thwack on timpani and bass drum.

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