Glass Notes

10,000 Glass Fans on the Roof

Since posting my first news item on March 27, 2007, this site has received 10,000 visitors.  Thank you all for coming and continuing to support Glass Notes. 
Also, for those new visitors, let this post serve as an invitation to contribute as often and as much as possible.  There are constantly small Glass events happening around the globe which are often not very well publicized.  It is the benefit to all who enjoy and support this music to have an open forum to share and discuss.
Speaking of discussions, much has been argued since the New York Times article citing history's most important "minimalist" recordings.  Steve Smith of Time Out NY and the NY Times whose list of 4 recordings included 3 Glass recordings, has talked about it recently on his blog Night After Night.  My own feeling is that most of the pieces listed were not even remotely "minimalist" but merely possessed a minimalist "sound." By and large, Minimalism is music preoccupied with process.  Glass has often spoke of his distaste for the term but accepts it for early pieces up to and including Music in 12 Parts.  To imply that Akhnaten, Adams' Nixon in China or any other number of pieces on the  list are "minimalist" pieces is wholly inaccurate and displays a great misunderstanding of the movement; At the very most it's a stretching of the definition to a point where any music  with any sort of pulse or repetitive element can be categorized as minimalist. 
I contributed to the Night after Night discussion by stating if we are to include pieces that sound minimalist, why not include Satie, Bernard Herrmann (Psycho, Vertigo) or Beethoven's 5th?   Beyond definitions though, I'm very pleased that some of this great music, minimalist or post-minimalist, is earning the attention it deserves.

Witches of Venice/Part 8 at iTunes

The Witches of Venice is finally available at iTunes.  Monday also saw the appearance of Part 8 of Music in 12 Parts.

Groningen Philip Glass Festival

It seems an entire European City will wholeheartedly and open-mindedly be dedicating itself to the Music of Philip Glass this October 20-27.  The hosts of this event are the city of Groningen and the Noord Nederlands Orkest which will perform Symphony No.8 and the Concerto Fantasy. 
Philip Glass will be present and performing during this festival including a solo piano recital and the country premiere of Book of Longing. 
Elsewhere around town various native and visiting ensembles join the festivities including groups like Cello Octet Conjunto Iberico, and English group Icebreaker will perform Glass' Music with Changing Parts which was released on CD this year by OMM.
Glass films will also be shown including a screening of Koyaanisqatsi and the documentary about Philip Glass "Looking Glass."
Personally I find this festival incredible:  To my knowledge there have been other "celebrations" of Philip Glass' music, but this sort of open-armed celebration of a (foreign) living artist is almost unimaginable for someone from this side of the pond.  My hat goes off to all involved and I wish I could be there myself.  Most of the details of these events were submitted by Léon who will be in the midst of the celebration.

For a Full List of Events go to the calendar at PhilipGlass.com or the festival's website.

VISIT GRONINGEN:
Oct 20 Glass in the City - Several artists perform music by Glass on different locations in Groningen from 2-5 pm. Artists include: The Northern Consort, the Matangi Quartet, the Cello Octet Conjunto Iberico ("Glass Reflections"), the Hanze Saxophonequartet, and Gerard Bouwhuis (piano)

Oct 21 Films on Glass - Movie theatre Images show three films from 2-5:50 pm: Koyaanisqatsi, Taji Chaotic Harmony and the documentary Looking Glass

Oct 21 The Ragazze Quartet performs Glass' String Quartet No. 5

Oct 23 Book of Longing (Philip Glass performing)
          Noord Nederlands Orkest (Orchestra of the Northern Netherlands)

Oct 24 Philip Glass Piano Recital

Oct 25 Works by Glass - Prince Claus Conservatory

Oct 25 Icebreaker performs Music with Changing Parts

Oct 26 Namghyal Lhamo & Gerard Bouwhuis: Voice from the Himalaya
           Tibetan vocal music and The Northern Consort and Gerard Bouwhuis performing Music in Contrary              Motion and Music in Similar Motion

Oct 27 Noord Nederlands Orkest
    The NNO performs three works by Glass: The Concerto Fantasy for Timpanists and Orchestra, Symphony     No. 8 and an still to be dediced work.

Oct 27 Glass Dansts (Glass Dances)
    The Prince Claus Conservatory performs Glass Works + several dj's and vj's

Appomattox Synopsis Posted

The San Francisco Opera has posted on their website a full synopsis of the new opera Appomattox

Koyaanisqatsi Discussion @ Popcorn Taxi

Philip Glass discusses Koyaanisqatsi, his working relationship with Godfrey Reggio and the nature of film scoring.

World Soundtrack Awards

Léon reports that the World Soundtrack Awards have nominated both Philip Glass (composer of the year) and Notes on a Scandal (Best Original Score).
more here....

Minimalist Recordings - NY Times

In a great article in today's New York Times, the newspaper's critics are asked to list the most important "minimalist" recordings.  Seven Glass works were sited by five of the seven critics surveyed including: Music in 12 Parts, Einstein on the Beach, Satyagraha, Akhnaten, Koyaanisqatsi & Glassworks

YouTube goes crazy...

Here are a couple new videos....including a bit of OMM's "Dracula" concert at the Orensanz Foundation and a small clip of Philip Glass talking about Allen Ginsberg.

Four Trips to Hell and Back at the Opera - NY Times

The Times' Anthony Tommassini reports on Glimmerglass Opera's season from the underworld including PG's Orphée.