Philip Glass Half-Full
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Philip Glass Half-Full
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Re: Philip Glass Half-Full
#2This article seems reasonably objective at first, until it suddenly turns on you and becomes extremely opinionated:
"The problem is that Glass’s music fails to do what I believe all great music does, which is to structure time in a profoundly meaningful way"
Not really. When I'm composing something, and I find myself forced to backtrack and rewrite my work, lest it sound "too glassy", which I know everyone would complain about, then that's a rather clear sign that Glass is now settled as a great composer. It's not an understatement to say that he changed the history of music, and that his style is likely to influence most, if not all future composers.
Re: Philip Glass Half-Full
#3the fact that Glass’s music contains no fully developed melodies
I had to look up the date on this piece because taking into account Glass's post 1995 (at the very latest) works, I couldn't disagree more with the conclusion and perhaps misunderstand the author's concept of melody.
Glass's distant history with melody is not particularly strong (although Façades is a good example of early melodic work), but his work has become more (and to choose a rather tricky term) "human" over the years. Reviews of Naqoyqatsi (both the movie soundtrack and the concerto it turned into) frequently cite its "melodic" nature and "lyrical melodic lines" (BBC Music) and it is far from the only modern Glass piece to adopt a melodic approach (his epic first Violin Concerto comes to mind). Heck, I'm sure I even saw Glass and Yo Yo Ma being interviewed about Naqoyqatsi and how it was designed for the cello to drive a powerful melody to counteract the technological nature of the movie (note that Koyaanisqatsi was the other way around - more 'mechnical' electronic music set to scenes of the natural world).
One problem some new to Glass can encounter is Glass's melodies frequently occur in lower registers on instruments that don't generally play melodies, particularly in his operas, leaving the traditionally melodic instruments to instead provide the rhythm. Appomattox provides modern examples of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J14flyMOQo
Re: Philip Glass Half-Full
#4the fact that Glass’s music contains no fully developed melodies I had to look up the date on this piece because taking into account Glass's post 1995 (at the very latest) works, I couldn't disagree more with the conclusion and perhaps misunderstand the author's concept of melody. Glass's distant history with melody is not particularly strong (although Façades is a good example of early melodic work), but his work ha…
Here's a 1990 Glass piece that's extremely melodic - not only that, but two melodic subjects are exposed then superimposed in a powerful counterpoint.
The first subject is exposed at 1:55, the second at 4:10, and both are in counterpoint around 5:10.
The bass, as you point out, also becomes quite melodic in the last minute, while providing harmony to the first subject.
Re: Philip Glass Half-Full
#5the fact that Glass’s music contains no fully developed melodies I had to look up the date on this piece because taking into account Glass's post 1995 (at the very latest) works, I couldn't disagree more with the conclusion and perhaps misunderstand the author's concept of melody. Glass's distant history with melody is not particularly strong (although Façades is a good example of early melodic work), but his work ha…
Great info. Glass is possibly the first musician that I actually "listened" to as a child after seeing one of his Sesame Street clips [1].
The author of this article claims that he failed "to structure time in a profoundly meaningful way" and perhaps I don't understand what they are claiming but that clip alone did the opposite in a profound way for me. It actually unlocked in my young brain what music is made of.
Re: Philip Glass Half-Full
#6One 20th century composer I've enjoyed is Górecki, especially his Third Symphony. It is "monotonous" but still interesting and powerful. I don't really know a lot about music, but I love Dvořák and Brahms and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. I've always been uninterested in Glass because of his reputation, but reading this article and the other comments makes me want to listen to something from him. Any suggestions?
Re: Philip Glass Half-Full
#7Philip Glass's music is great to code to.
I don't care much about musical critiques of his work, he is one of the few artists whose music is consistently great to program with.
I can't recommend it enough.
Re: Philip Glass Half-Full
#8One 20th century composer I've enjoyed is Górecki, especially his Third Symphony. It is "monotonous" but still interesting and powerful. I don't really know a lot about music, but I love Dvořák and Brahms and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. I've always been uninterested in Glass because of his reputation, but reading this article and the other comments makes me want to listen to something from him. Any suggestions?
I share your love of Gorecki. I heard him on the radio once and it was some of the most beautiful music I ever heard, so I ran out to buy the CD.
I like some of Glass's music. Also his more monotonous pieces, but like almost every composer with a large body of produced works there's quite a number of pieces that I do not like at all. So yeah, check him out!
As for the suggestions: I'll add them tomorrow morning.
Re: Philip Glass Half-Full
#9Curiously, the author expounds on why he does not like Glass's work (fair enough) and how Glass is not a great composer (certainly up for debate); he spends no time (and appears to have no insights) explaining why, exactly, so many people have been duped into enjoying it. He proposes a few theories, but seems rather dismissive in the face some pretty convincing evidence re: Glass's greatness. I actually looked for a "next page" button.
Re: Philip Glass Half-Full
#10Philip Glass's music is great to code to. I don't care much about musical critiques of his work, he is one of the few artists whose music is consistently great to program with. I can't recommend it enough.
Very much agree!