5 Facts About John Adams’s Shaker Loops

Written in 1978 John Adams composed Shaker Loops in 1978.

Originally for string septet The piece was first written for a string septet, not a full orchestra.

Minimalist style Shaker Loops is a key early work in Adams’s minimalist style, featuring repetitive patterns and gradual shifts.

Title refers to shaking The title evokes the physical sensation of shaking or vibrating, matching the music’s tremolo-heavy texture.

Later expanded Adams later arranged Shaker Loops for string orchestra, which is the more commonly performed version today.