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Classical |
Minimalism is what modern culture thrives on, and in effect, Philip Glass and his strange musical ties assisted in the modern classical development
in the later 21st century. Glass was born five years before the outbreak of WWII on January 31st 1937, to Jewish Lithuanian immigrants.
Thankfully, being separated from the rupture in the earth of Europe, Glass was free to grow up alongside his father who was a musical enthusiast.
Through his father’s ears, Glass was to discover from an early age many musical genres, mainly classical, from expressionists such as Schoenberg
to classic Beethove ...read more
Minimalism is what modern culture thrives on, and in effect, Philip Glass and his strange musical ties assisted in the modern classical development
in the later 21st century. Glass was born five years before the outbreak of WWII on January 31st 1937, to Jewish Lithuanian immigrants.
Thankfully, being separated from the rupture in the earth of Europe, Glass was free to grow up alongside his father who was a musical enthusiast.
Through his father’s ears, Glass was to discover from an early age many musical genres, mainly classical, from expressionists such as Schoenberg
to classic Beethoven. Additionally, he would begin to learn and play the flute, and from here Glass set
upon a musical journey through countless equilibria.
Beginning with his tuition through high school, Glass stumbled across Webern’s serialism. This piece, on unknown designation, had a profound
affect upon his developing mind, heralding the necessity for him to produce something perhaps similar. After this life changing moment, he travelled
to Paris, where he went under the tuition of Nadia Boulanger, a prominent traditional music tutor. Despite Glass’ very true respect for the classical
technique expressed within the music of Bach, Mozart Beethoven and alike, he felt hindered by the restrictions that it presented to him - he
wanted something more, something new and invigorating. Having this desire, he soon became of his own independence and voyaged into the
compositional world on his own ship.
Psychedelica seemed to have taken its own course upon Glass during the 1960’s as he stubbornly bent classical rules and regulations, furthermore
creating the “Glass Ensemble,” which was to include a variant of instruments to that of standard classical ensembles. Like other artists of the
time, Glass and his alternative lifestyle landed him within the spiritual dwellings of Tibet. This visit was soon to take a hold upon Glass, which never
seemed to let go of him, even to this day. His music at times reflects his initial visits to India and Tibet, having a tribal essence, to timely ostinato
passages, while maintaining a pure minimal timbre. Yet despite this, his music always feels like it could be chained towards the foundation of the
classics, in a strange hypnotic and varied manner.
Through the 1980’s he became quite famous through the release of his conceptual opera “Akhenaten,” and his six piece suite “Glassworks,” both
presenting a form of new minimalism to the world. He also scored for the highly influential Japanese art film "Koyaanisqatsi" during this decade. If
revolution is what Glass was looking for he got it. With each new composition, he pushed new barriers and climbed many rugged walls to overcome
the sometimes negative response towards his ‘bizarre’ ideas about music. But Glass had nothing to worry about, his glass was always half full, and
he continued on with his composition, and also film music. The latter is what inevitably would gain him greater success, financially, but also
publicly, especially after winning an Academy Award for best score for The Truman Show, one of his most respected compositions.
To this day, Glass has composed hundreds of works, ranging from concertos for saxophone, to genuine symphonies (eight of them), and full scores
for film. A legendary minimalist composer, he is one of the geniuses of modern classical music. If there is anyone who will decide the direction
classical music follows in the next twenty years, it will certainly be under the keen eye of Philip Glass. « hide |
Similar Bands: Michael Nyman, John Adams, Yann Tiersen, Brian Eno, Steve Reich
Contributors: SalParadise, taylormemer, ninjuice, Electric City, TWIGtheWONDERKID, taylormemer, tylerdurdenpt, MisterTornado,
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