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Philip Glass: My problem is people don’t believe I write symphonies (2017)

theguardian.com

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Re: Philip Glass: My problem is people don’t believe I write symphonies (2017)

#41

Post by jedimastert »

AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #33
tmountain wrote: post #19

I saw Glass at a performing arts center in my hometown. The PAC has a lot of season ticket holders, and Glass' music triggered an older attendee to march to the front of the auditorium and yell, "this isn't music". He was quickly ushered out by his wife, but Glass was noticeably smirking, and the whole thing really added to the avant garde vibe of the performance. Amazing concert BTW. One of my favorite artists.

The label "avant-garde" is surprising to see used to describe Philip Glass's works. What performance were you attending?

I agree. He was required reading in several of my music degree courses

Re: Philip Glass: My problem is people don’t believe I write symphonies (2017)

#42

Post by easytiger »

AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #33
tmountain wrote: post #19

I saw Glass at a performing arts center in my hometown. The PAC has a lot of season ticket holders, and Glass' music triggered an older attendee to march to the front of the auditorium and yell, "this isn't music". He was quickly ushered out by his wife, but Glass was noticeably smirking, and the whole thing really added to the avant garde vibe of the performance. Amazing concert BTW. One of my favorite artists.

The label "avant-garde" is surprising to see used to describe Philip Glass's works. What performance were you attending?

Unrelated anecdote, but I once went to a 3 hour John Cage concert. Genuinely awful, and about as thought provoking as a piece of cardboard.

That was avant-garde, apparently.

Re: Philip Glass: My problem is people don’t believe I write symphonies (2017)

#43

Post by AndrewUnmuted »

okareaman wrote: post #37

If you're a fan of Philip Glass but haven't explored the works of Steve Reich I highly recommend it

Steve* Reich.

IMO, an excellent first listen would be Tehillim. [0]

[0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiaTvR9sFX8

Re: Philip Glass: My problem is people don’t believe I write symphonies (2017)

#44

Post by mekoka »

AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #28
mekoka wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Criticizing the work is one thing. Trying to bully people for finding beauty where you can't is kinda childish.

Many people do not realize that they do not "listen" to music. They simply put it on for background ambiance, to do other things. And before anyone feels further offended, please see this [0] post from 30 minutes ago on HN that completely proves my point made in the previous post. > I think to this day its great background music for programming work Philip Glass wrote his music to be heard in the concert hall. Very f…

It's strange to believe that you know what people undergo during something as subjective as a sensory experiment. No matter your expertise, you can never really know how another person is perceiving their reality.

We're all given a set of senses and a brain to explore the world in our own way. It will not be the same from one individual to the next. If some people are looking to be soothed by music, while others are looking to be stimulated, does that give one group an authority on taste over the other?

Re: Philip Glass: My problem is people don’t believe I write symphonies (2017)

#45

Post by AndrewUnmuted »

barbecue_sauce wrote: post #40
AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The label "avant-garde" is surprising to see used to describe Philip Glass's works. What performance were you attending?

Philip Glass is constantly described as avant-garde. You may take issue with that label, but I hardly see how it can be surprising.

It's a ridiculous label to apply to Philip Glass. He would likely reject it himself.

The word "avant-garde" comes up not once in Philip Glass's Wikipedia article [0]. The only uses of the word "experimental" are in reference to his early interest in experimental theater.

Philip Glass is easily the most popular, mainstream living music composer. His music is extremely "listenable," and inoffensive to the casual listener. Calling him avant-garde is a complete disservice to what he has actually accomplished in his career. It's more avant-garde to call Philip Glass avant-garde than his music is avant-garde.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Glass

Re: Philip Glass: My problem is people don’t believe I write symphonies (2017)

#47

Post by alpaca128 »

AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #24
randlet wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is your goal with this comment to encourage people to give Berio, Feldman, Riley, and Reich a try, or is to try to convince others how much better at listening to music you are than them? For anyone else who likes Glass's piano work, you might like some pieces by Yann Tiersen or Erik Satie.

That's a strange dichotomy of choices. Another post in this thread backs up entirely my point that this is music to be played in the background, not thoroughly consumed and heard. [0] > I think to this day its great background music for programming work This article was nothing more than sponsored content for a contemporary artist who already has all of the success, publicity, and fandom he could ever need. By leveli…

> Another post in this thread backs up entirely my point that this is music to be played in the background, not thoroughly consumed and heard

Those two are not necessarily exclusive. I enjoy some kinds of songs as background music as well as by itself. Why would I listen to background music that I wouldn't like otherwise?

> I hope to provide a counter-point to The Guardian, which is neither an authority on music nor the broader culture.

Neither are you. Or anyone else except the individual person deciding what they want to listen to.

Re: Philip Glass: My problem is people don’t believe I write symphonies (2017)

#48

Post by AndrewUnmuted »

mekoka wrote: post #44
AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many people do not realize that they do not "listen" to music. They simply put it on for background ambiance, to do other things. And before anyone feels further offended, please see this [0] post from 30 minutes ago on HN that completely proves my point made in the previous post. > I think to this day its great background music for programming work Philip Glass wrote his music to be heard in the concert hall. Very f…

It's strange to believe that you know what people undergo during something as subjective as a sensory experiment. No matter your expertise, you can never really know how another person is perceiving their reality. We're all given a set of senses and a brain to explore the world in our own way. It will not be the same from one individual to the next. If some people are looking to be soothed by music, while others are…

> does that give one group an authority on taste

What the hell? I never made any such comment on the subjective experiences of listeners.

You can enjoy music and know it's "junk food." I like listening to plenty of bad music. I don't judge anyone for what they enjoy.

To call Philip Glass a master of his domain, a rightfully-celebrated contributor to Western art music, or any of this other crap - that's what I take issue with. Enjoy his music all you want - it's all available and in print, and his various corporate music labels make sure of that. Just don't mislead others who may actually take HN users at their word.

Re: Philip Glass: My problem is people don’t believe I write symphonies (2017)

#49

Post by garbagetime »

AndrewUnmuted wrote: post #45
barbecue_sauce wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Philip Glass is constantly described as avant-garde. You may take issue with that label, but I hardly see how it can be surprising.

It's a ridiculous label to apply to Philip Glass. He would likely reject it himself. The word "avant-garde" comes up not once in Philip Glass's Wikipedia article [0]. The only uses of the word "experimental" are in reference to his early interest in experimental theater. Philip Glass is easily the most popular, mainstream living music composer. His music is extremely "listenable," and inoffensive to the casual listen…

> It's a ridiculous label to apply to Philip Glass.

I disagree.

>The word "avant-garde" comes up not once in Philip Glass's Wikipedia article The only uses of the word "experimental" are in reference to his early interest in experimental theater.

What's that meant to show? I opened the first four references on that Wikipedia article and all contained the phrase 'avant-garde':

[1]https://www.biography.com/musician/philip-glass

>Philip Glass is an Oscar-nominated avant-garde composer whose notable works include 'Einstein on the Beach,' 'The Hours' and 'Notes on a Scandal.'

[2]https://nymag.com/news/features/influentials/16903/

>Took the avant-garde mainstream, offering hope and inspiration to countless composer-followers.

[3]https://www.theguardian.com/education/2001/nov/24/arts.highe...

>The project that would propel Glass from downtown New York notoriety to international stardom came in 1976 - an avant-garde music theatre collaboration with theatre visionary Robert Wilson"

[4]https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9ugCQfxwym0C/page/n5/mode...

OK, this one doesn't use the phrase in reference to Glass.

Re: Philip Glass: My problem is people don’t believe I write symphonies (2017)

#50

Post by codeulike »

The Philip Glass Mishima string quartets by the Smith Quartet are pretty nice if you havent heard them. From the soundstrack to a film about Mishima, who was also being discussed on HN the other week

String Quartet No.3: "Mishima": "Blood Oath"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXf77yY8qVg

String Quartet No.3: "Mishima": "1957: Award Montage"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJE7I8GfOaY

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