I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky

1995 song play

I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky
"Song play" by John Adams
Librettist	June Jordan

I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky is a 1995 "song play" with music composed by John Adams and a libretto by June Jordan.^[1]

The work is scored for 3 mezzo sopranos, high tenor, and 2 baritones, accompanied by an ensemble comprising 2 reed players (clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone), 3 keyboards (piano, keyboard samplers), acoustic and electric guitars, electric bass guitar (doubling on double bass) and drum set (doubling on MIDI drums).

Summary

The story takes place in the aftermath of the 1994 earthquake^[2] in Los Angeles, and covers the reactions of all characters to the event.^[3]

The main characters are seven young Americans all living in Los Angeles but from different social and ethnic backgrounds.^[4]^[5]

Style

According to the composer, the all song and ensemble piece is "a Broadwaystyle show" fused with gospel,^[6] pop ballad, the blues, doo-wop and popular song.^[7]

References

^ Swed, Mark (August 25, 2014). "Review: John Adams' 'Ceiling/Sky' remains earthbound". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014.
^ Hamlin, Jesse (May 7, 1995). "What's Shakin' With Adams And Sellars? / Composer and director team anew -- this time with poet June Jordan -- an earthquake-inspired love story / 'I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky'". SFGATE.
^ "Adams: I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky (Highlights)". AllMusic.
^ "Adams I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky". Gramophone. February 1999. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
^ Meisel, Myron (August 25, 2014). "'I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky': Opera Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
^ Clements, Andrew (October 13, 2005). "Adams: I Was Looking at the Ceiling, Holst-Sinfonietta/ Simon". The Guardian.
^ "Adams, J: I was looking at the ceiling and then I saw the sky". Presto Music.