Over the past decade or so, the American composer John Luther Adams – who styles himself ‘JLA’ to avoid confusion with other composers of the same name – is becoming recognised as one of the most original and distinctive voices of his generation.

The first performance of his music in Australia was probably in June 2011, when his percussion piece Inuksuit was performed at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. In May 2019, Tim Munro led a spellbinding rendition of Ten Thousand Birds with ANAM musicians, transforming the South Melbourne Town Hall into an immersive aviary. In March 2022, the Australian premiere of Become Ocean was a highlight of the Perth Festival, performed by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and West Australian Youth Orchestra, as it was when the Queensland Symphony Orchestra performed it at the 2024 Brisbane Festival.

John Luther Adams (right) with Richard Tognetti, Artistic Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Photo © Nic Walker

Become Ocean was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2014 and a Grammy Award the following year. Its haunting soundscape, constructed around three huge crescendos,...