OK, let’s play with this: what should be programmed for the potheads? To begin with, I like most of Jeremy Denk’s and John Adams’ suggestions, the latter of which should come as no surprise, since his music appeals to the same pleasure centers. But there are always other possibilities:
Start with his almost-namesake, John Luther Adams, much of whose music is quite spacy, in an appealing way.
Then add rhythm with Steve Reich. I’ll bet there has been many a cannabis-enclouded evening spent with Music for 18 Musicians.
Bela Bartok comes to mind. You can’t go wrong with his Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, and the first two piano concertos should hit the spot too.
Finally, reaching back a bit, we have Leos Janacek’s Glagolitic Mass, selected by Kenneth Anger for his Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome. (Warnings about equating opium and pot are heard and accepted.)
Readers can chime in if posting a comment is not too much hassle.
Why limit ourselves to popular music? From jazz, I might add Coltrane's "Love Consequences Serenity" (as well as some other things). From rock, the Moody Blues' "Every Good Boy Deserves Favor."
ReplyDeleteI do agree with "Music for 18 Musicians," but, then, I don't use consciousness-altering substances, and I listen to that a lot.