Program Notes }
about creating a work to commemorate
the lives lost on September 11, 2001 for
the opening concerts of its 2002– 03
season, which would fall close to the first
anniversary of that terrible tragedy, the
composer remembers that he said “yes”
without any hesitation.
There were indeed good reasons to
refuse. Usually, Adams explained, a
commission for such a major work would
come at least a year in advance, but this
one would need to be accomplished in
no more than six months. Nevertheless,
“I knew immediate