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

John Adams
Operas Nixon in China (1987) The Death of Klinghoffer (1991) I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky (1995) El Niño (2000) Doctor Atomic (2005) A Flowering Tree (2006) The Gospel According to the Other Mary (2013)

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.

The story takes place in the aftermath of the 1994 earthquake in Los Angeles, and covers the reactions of all characters to the event. The main characters are seven young Americans all living in Los Angeles but from different social and ethnic backgrounds.

See also

• Minimalism (music)
• Contemporary opera

External links

• John Adams' official website - audio sample (title piece)

John Adams
Operas	Nixon in China The Death of Klinghoffer I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky El Niño Doctor Atomic A Flowering Tree The Gospel According to the Other Mary Girls of the Golden West
Orchestral works	Shaker Loops (orchestral) Harmonielehre The Chairman Dances Tromba Lontana Short Ride in a Fast Machine Slonimsky's Earbox Lollapalooza Naive and Sentimental Music Guide to Strange Places My Father Knew Charles Ives City Noir
Concertante	The Wound-Dresser Violin Concerto Century Rolls The Dharma at Big Sur Absolute Jest Saxophone Concerto Scheherazade.2
Chamber music	Shaker Loops (string septet) Chamber Symphony John's Book of Alleged Dances Road Movies Gnarly Buttons
Other ensemble works	American Standard, including "Christian Zeal and Activity" Grand Pianola Music
Choral music	Harmonium Choruses from The Death of Klinghoffer On the Transmigration of Souls
Piano works	Phrygian Gates China Gates Hallelujah Junction American Berserk
Film score	I Am Love
Related articles	Minimal music
Category:Compositions by John Coolidge Adams