A musical recreation of nature sounds by instruments and movements of a band, a performance that has only been performed by Julliard, is coming to town.
Utah Tech University’s Symphonic Band and Percussion Ensemble will be performing “Crossing Open Ground” composed by John Luther Adams Oct. 25.
The performance will be at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the White Rock Amphitheater in Snow Canyon State Park.
Unlike traditional concerts, this performance incorporates choreographed movements throughout the piece, with the goal of creating the visual of Earth and the effects of nature. Students have the ability to experiment with movements as they work with the piece by seeing what looks good, and they are put in specific positions to create the sounds.
“The idea [is] that we cross open ground, and listen to everything we encounter and appreciate the Earth,” said Glenn Webb, associate professor of music and associate dean for College of the Arts.
Adams, a classical music composer, wrote the piece for the Aspen Festival in Colorado in 2023. Juilliard performed the composition in 2024. The Los Angeles Philharmonic plans to perform it within the next year, making Utah Tech’s concert the third overall performance.
Adams often uses nature as his muse. Before becoming a full-time composer, he worked as an environmentalist focused on conservation. The performance represents natural sounds and the importance of appreciating Earth.
“Crossing Open Ground” was inspired by one of Adams’ friends and their shared love of Alaska’s landscapes.
“It’s incredible that our students get to be involved in it,” Webb said.
The White Rocks Amphitheater is a 0.4 mile hike. The composition is designed as an immersive experience, with the audience standing among the performers, meaning it breaks from traditional performance conventions. The audience won’t be cued when to applaud.
The piece gives students more independence with their musical choices, said performer Brooklyn Peterson, a senior music education major from Payson.
“The boundaries that classical music has so often are not allowed to exist in this piece,” Webb said.
“This musical piece is a step of breaking the classical music mold. It is different than the traditional classical music you normally see being performed,” said performer Larissa Thomas, a sophomore general studies major from Spanish Fork.
Students said they are excited for the opportunity to perform one of Adams’ pieces.
“I thought that was pretty sick. It felt like an honor,” Peterson said. “I had a little bit of an intimidation factor. I had just come out of a course about John Luther Adams, so I had a little bit of knowledge of what the piece was [and] what it was going to be.”
The experience also gives students a glimpse into a more professional music environment, said Josh Holt, a junior music education major from Mansfield, Texas.
The event is open to the public and tickets are available on the Kayenta website. Prices range from $20 to $55.
“It’s not build on traditions,” Webb said about the piece. “It’s build on what could be a future.”
