Glass Notes

H2 Quartet

Violin Sonata, Watchman, Salter,

A couple of preview pieces on this weekend's World Premiere performance of the Glass Violin Sonata by Maria Bachmann and Jon Klibanoff in Harrisburg Pennsylvania.

It seems confirmed that the tracks from Koyaanisqatsi (Pruitt Igoe & Prophecies) that were used in trailers for THE WATCHMEN have made it into the body of the film.  Can't wait to see his music underscore the existential musings of Dr. Manhattan while alone on the planet Mars.

Another Obituary for our friend Richard Salter

And Book of Longing tour continues.  Next week Philip Glass & Musicians will perform in Claremont California, a stone's throw from Mr. Cohen's significant Mt. Baldy.

Oscar Treat / BOL in Texas

Well, Philip Glass may never win an Oscar, but neither have some of my favorite film composers.  A.R. Rahman won last night for his score to Slumdog Millionaire.  In fairness to him, I haven't seen the film. Musically however, listening to the score alone, I don't find much interesting about it.
Composers like Thomas Newman and Danny Elfman have never won either.  Ennio Morricone had to wait for a "Lifetime Achievement Award" because his scores were never "good enough to win"...awards are silly, but there has been a change in recent years which leans toward political correctness and not on a celebration of musical achievement.  The idea that Gustavo Santoallala (Brokeback Mountain, Babel) has won two Oscars and now A.R. Rahman has won two...both having twice as many as composing giants Bernard Herrmann and Jerry Goldsmith is ridiculous.  Alexandre Desplat deserved to win last night for his wonderful music to Benjamin Button.
The silver lining for Glass fans was during the introductory video for the documentary section, the underscore was Philip Glass' Metamorphosis No.2.  If nothing else, perhaps it's a nod to Glass' cinematic contribution in the field of documentaries.

Glass and Book of Longing in Austin Texas

The Weekend...

I am usually quiet blog-wise on the weekends so I'm trying to write as close to quittin time as possible this week.  It's been a long exhausting week for a variety of reasons. I see though that Bard has announced its Summerfest season along with a commissioned reconstruction of "Dance" (one of the great Glass albums).  There's Lucinda Childs' choreography, Sol LeWitt's video (artist of the cover art to the first recording of Music in 12 Parts) and Philip Glass' music.  I'll do my best to check it out July 9-12 up on the Hudson River.

Have a great weekend everyone!

More from San Francisco....

The SF Chronicle

and Civic Center blog

Backstage with the PGE

Backstage at the San Francisco performance of "Music in 12 Parts"
The Philip Glass Ensemble circa 2009:
Mick Rossi, David Crowell, Philip Glass, Andrew Sterman, Jon Gibson, Lisa Bielawa (Michael Riesman not pictured) photo by Jim Woodard on his iPhone.

Philip Glass in California (updated)

And a review of 12 parts in the Contra Costa Times

With Patti Smith in Santa Barbara

Lisa Bielawa talks about performing Music in 12 Parts

Philip Glass discussing circumstances for creating in , "A rare visit from a renowned composer"

12 parts comes west

Minimalist composer is a one man industry

Usher and Tyrol....

A short glimpse of the 1986 Glass opera "The Fall of the House of Usher" after E.A.Poe

And a nice imagery of the Tyrolean Apls paired with Glass' Tirol Concerto.

Richard Salter Obituary in the London Times

Richard Salter: baritone and founder member of the King's Singers

A Previous Life

Joining the ranks of the pieces from the pre-minimalist part of Philip Glass' career, this little piece came to my attention today.  Recorded by Duo Cavatina, this "Serenade for Flute" joins the ranks of the Brass Sextet, Arioso Nos.1 and 2, String Quartet, "Contrasts", Sonatino No.2 (and 1?) which were recorded but not necessarily acknowledged by the composer as being part of his mature work catalog.

Anyone else heard of pre-minimalist pieces not included here? 

This all reminds me of Carl Orff's comments to his publisher upon completing Carmina Burana:

"Everything I have written to date, and which you have, unfortunately, printed, can be destroyed. With Carmina Burana my collected works begin."

At some point in the future I will share my own Glass anecdotes on the subject, and how I learned to keep my mouth shut.  In the meantime it invites artists to on that first realization that you have created a work born of your own creative spirit, and how in that moment you view your work differently than you ever had before.

A mature piece in contrast to "Serenade for Flute"  is the lovely "arabesque in memoriam" by flautist Laurel Zucker. I really nice work and performance.