Philip Glass Appreciation Thread

[rach2jlc]

I can anticipate some naysayers (cough: manton: cough), but I actually quite like Philip Glass and think he's done some very interesting work on his own and for film.

Here are a few I especially like:

Soundtracks:
1) Mishima (I really enjoy this one)
2) Candyman (creepy, but interesting)
3) Koyaniisquatsi, Powaqatsi, etc. (maybe I misspelled these)

Other stuff:
1) Glassworks
2) Itaipu
3) Akhnaten

Are there other pieces by him you like or find interesting in some way?

 

[breakz]

Saw a performance of In The Upper Room last Friday. The music was amazing.

 

[Nouveau Pauvre]

I love Einstein on the Beach. Merits being listened to in its entirety.

 

[rach2jlc]

Originally Posted by Magician

I love Einstein on the Beach. Merits being listened to in its entirety.
Oh yeah, how could I forget to mention this one? Thanks for fixing that oversight!

 

[andyw]

Persoanally Glass' oeuvre is exciting the first few hearings, then when you figure out the subtlety, disonances and the complexity, it gets monotonous. Having said that, coming to his work after long stretches of neglect is the only way I can enjoy his work. I think the film and his soundtrack to Koyaanisqatsi is a masterpiece.

In this genre, i like Steve Reich's work better.

 

[breakz]

Originally Posted by Magician

I love Einstein on the Beach. Merits being listened to in its entirety.

I've heard parts of this, and thought it was great.

 

[dusty]

Love Koyaanisqatsi, haven't listened to a lot else.

 

[rach2jlc]

Originally Posted by dusty

Love Koyaanisqatsi, haven't listened to a lot else.
If you haven't ever watched the movie "Mishima," I HIGHLY recommend it. It's a great movie, but it also has one of the best integrations of a soundtrack ever (IMHO.) Other than that, Glassworks is both beautiful and accessible, moreso than some of his other non-film work. Itaipu is also rather interesting and much more GRAND than Glass usually gets.

 

[designprofessor]

Continually while I'm painting.
Soundtrack from Fog of War

 

[Augusto86]

Originally Posted by rach2jlc

3) Koyaniisquatsi, Powaqatsi, etc. (maybe I misspelled these)
?

I saw this **** in High School with some friends, entirely by accident, 'cause we thought it was a cool Sci-fi movie.

**** P. Glass. **** him with hot shards of burning...glass.

 

[King Francis]

I've been wanting to see Mishima. He's a great author, my favorite Japanese author along with Lady Murasaki.

 

[aportnoy]

Originally Posted by breakz

Saw a performance of In The Upper Room last Friday. The music was amazing.

The Tharp choreography and Norma Kamali costumes make this one my all time favorites. I still viscerally remember seeing it for the first time 20+ years ago.

Originally Posted by Magician

I love Einstein on the Beach. Merits being listened to in its entirety.

Epic and one of the great pieces of 20th century music.

 

[v0rtex]

Solo Piano is great, reminds me more of electronic music than classical with it's repetition and evolution...

 

[rach2jlc]

^Agreed.

The "purists" will not be happy with this statement, but when Glass is really ON, he almost has a Bach-like quality to him, with the subtle progression and repetition of all the elements..

For example, listen to the second movement of the BWV 1065 Concerto for Four Harpsichords... there are some very interesting similarities, IMHO.

 

[mps23]

the candyman soundtrack isn't bad either. works well for a film that glass originally thought would be a gothic horror film.

the grandeur of koyaanisqatsi live, while the film plays in the background tops all.