John Adams is one of the world's most critically acclaimed and popular composers whose music is performed frequently and globally. Over more than four decades he's covered a lot of musical ground, from experiments in recorded sound, and the harmony and rhythm of Minimalism to grand-scale symphonies and operas that tell big stories of global politics, science and terrorism. As he turns 70 he looks back at his musical life with John Wilson.

Playlist:

Hallelujah Junction

Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture

Bozo the Clown's theme tune

Grand Pianola Music

On The Transmigration Of Souls

Steve Reich's Drumming

Philip Glass's Knee Play from Einstein on the Beach

Phrygian Gates

Beginning from Nixon in China

The People Are The Heroes Now from Nixon in China

Chorus of Exiled Palestinians from The Death of Klinghoffer

Chorus of Exiled Jews from The Death of Klinghoffer

Marilyn Klinghoffer: "You embraced them!" from The Death of Klinghoffer

Tale of the Wize Young Woman from Scherherazade 2

Image: John Adams