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Philip Glass Half-Full

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Re: Philip Glass Half-Full

#11

Post by danbmil99 »

petercooper wrote: post #3

the 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…

Agree 100%. However I even find earlier pieces such as "Music in 12 Parts" hauntingly beautiful and melodic in the way that trance/ambient can be. True it doesn't have the same purpose, or effect, of a narrative song, but it isn't intended to.

I see a strong analogy between Glass's early works and Brian Eno's period starting with "Music For Elevators". They are both asking a fundamental question -- what is music "supposed to do?" -- and attempting to break down centuries of expectation, to build up a new way of communicating from the ground up.

Interestingly, both artists evolved from their early radical roots, re-introducing more approachable narrative tropes, to create a new hybrid style that melds hard-core minimalism with the desire for a storytelling arc. Often, they did so in collaboration.

Examples: Passages (Glass / Shankar), Achtung Baby (U2 / Eno)

Re: Philip Glass Half-Full

#14

Post by mandelbrot »

pjungwir wrote: post #6

One 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?

If you want something "easier" to start with I would suggest Naqoyqatsi soundtrack, the Symphony No. 3 is a nice listen as well.

http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Naqoyqatsi/212925 http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Symphony+No+3/3708522

Koyaanisqatsi was the first Glass' piece I remember hearing and to this day still remains my favourite. But perhaps it is best experienced while watching the movie, the score is meant to work along with the pictures.

http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Koyaanisqatsi/296839

Now for a truly hardcore experience try Music in Twelve Parts or the massive opera Einstein on the Beach.

http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Music+In+Twelve+Parts/467796...

http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Philip+Glass+Einstein+On+The... http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Philip+Glass+Einstein+On+The... http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Philip+Glass+Einstein+On+The...

If you still haven't got enough, why not listen to some hip-hop remixes :)

http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Glassbreaks/465696

Hope this helps.

Re: Philip Glass Half-Full

#15

Post by mturmon »

danbmil99 wrote: post #11
petercooper wrote: post #3

the 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…

Agree 100%. However I even find earlier pieces such as "Music in 12 Parts" hauntingly beautiful and melodic in the way that trance/ambient can be. True it doesn't have the same purpose, or effect, of a narrative song, but it isn't intended to. I see a strong analogy between Glass's early works and Brian Eno's period starting with "Music For Elevators". They are both asking a fundamental question -- what is music "sup…

Eno's recording of Music for Airports (not "elevators", that is something of a howler) had an interesting compositional method which was based on overlapping tape loops, with the loops having different periods.

You can hear the notes coming into and out of phase (over very long time periods) sometimes playing almost over the top of one another, and sometimes with silent spaces. Because of this, it has a sub rosa mathematical side.

Eno was influenced by Glass, but Glass is about a decade older.

I'm sure I've listened to that one record 200 times. I've found all of his music to be very rewarding over many years.

Incidentally, the article mentions John Adams in passing. I've found Adams' music to be more engaging and adventurous than Glass'. Adams is more of a West coast character, he's the composer in residence at the LA Phil and, earlier, at the SF Symphony. Highly recommended.

Re: Philip Glass Half-Full

#16

Post by KC8ZKF »

mturmon wrote: post #15
danbmil99 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree 100%. However I even find earlier pieces such as "Music in 12 Parts" hauntingly beautiful and melodic in the way that trance/ambient can be. True it doesn't have the same purpose, or effect, of a narrative song, but it isn't intended to. I see a strong analogy between Glass's early works and Brian Eno's period starting with "Music For Elevators". They are both asking a fundamental question -- what is music "sup…

Eno's recording of Music for Airports (not "elevators", that is something of a howler) had an interesting compositional method which was based on overlapping tape loops, with the loops having different periods. You can hear the notes coming into and out of phase (over very long time periods) sometimes playing almost over the top of one another, and sometimes with silent spaces. Because of this, it has a sub rosa math…

This may be obvious to most, but the loops in question were literal tape loops, it being 1978. ("...running around a series of tubular aluminum chairs in Conny Plank's studio.")

Re: Philip Glass Half-Full

#17

Post by benbreen »

rgawdzik wrote: post #12

The first time I knew of Philip's Glass work was from Battlestar Galactica. There was a beautiful composition that Starbuck listened to in her apartment, and I was driven to find it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hMw1C6fPt8

That exact piece has been the soundtrack to finishing my dissertation these last couple months. Probably played it 100 times in the past few weeks and I'm still not sick of it. I first listened to it in the back of a darkened and nearly empty 737 being sprayed with de-icing fluid during a heavy snowstorm on the day after New Years Eve - not sure if I've ever encountered a better "life soundtrack" moment.

Re: Philip Glass Half-Full

#18

Post by KC8ZKF »

danbmil99 wrote: post #11
petercooper wrote: post #3

the 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…

Agree 100%. However I even find earlier pieces such as "Music in 12 Parts" hauntingly beautiful and melodic in the way that trance/ambient can be. True it doesn't have the same purpose, or effect, of a narrative song, but it isn't intended to. I see a strong analogy between Glass's early works and Brian Eno's period starting with "Music For Elevators". They are both asking a fundamental question -- what is music "sup…

Another example may be Glass's "Symphony No. 1", which was based on David Bowie's album "Low", which can be seen as Eno re-introducing more approachable narrative tropes.

Re: Philip Glass Half-Full

#20

Post by baddox »

petercooper wrote: post #3

the 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…

The only Glass music I am familiar with is his Solo Piano album. I consider it very melodic.
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