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Glass

Philip Glass
Dates
1937 (b.)
Era
Post-War (1945–1985)
Recognition
essential
Wikipedia

Where to start with Glass

Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles
  1. Stage
    Akhnaten — Opera
  2. Chamber
    Glassworks, 6 pieces for chamber ensemble or piano
  3. Keyboard
    Metamorphosis
  4. Orchestral
    Violin Concerto
  5. Vocal
    3 Songs for Chorus a capella
  6. Stage
    Koyaanisquatsi — Film score
  7. Stage
    Einstein on the Beach — Opera
  8. Stage
    Satyagraha — Opera
  9. Orchestral
    Symphony no. 1, "Low"
  10. Stage
    12 Pieces for Ballet, for piano, "Aguas da Amazonia"
  11. Keyboard
    4 Movements, for 2 pianos
  12. Chamber
    5 Dance Pieces
  13. Chamber
    600 Lines
  14. Stage
    A Brief History of Time — Film score
  15. Stage
    A Descent into the Maelstrom — Ballet

Listening guide

Hand-curated paths into Glass's catalogue
  1. Glassworks (piano)
  2. Metamorphosis I-V (piano)
  3. Violin Concerto No. 1
  4. The Hours (film score)
  5. Knee Play No. 5 (from Einstein on the Beach)

Most Acclaimed

  1. Einstein on the Beach (complete opera)
    no narrative, 5 hours, no intermission — audience can come and go
  2. Akhnaten (opera)
  3. Symphony No. 3
  4. Music in Fifths
  5. Music in Similar Motion

Most Weird

  1. Einstein on the Beach
    you are expected to leave during the performance; trains, beach scenes, spaceship, trial — no text beyond numbers and solfège syllables
  2. Music in Contrary Motion
    1969 — two keyboard parts move in opposite directions by half-steps; pure additive process
  3. Low Symphony
    orchestral realisation of David Bowie and Brian Eno’s ”Low” album
  4. Hydrogen Jukebox
    for voice + ensemble — texts by Allen Ginsberg
  5. Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (film score)
    his most classical film score — string quartet + orchestra

Similar composers

Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinity

In your library

Music With Changing Parts 1971 Classical
Music in Twelve Parts, Parts 1 & 2 1974 Classical
Solo Music 1975 Classical
Dance nos. 1 & 3 1980 Classical
Glassworks 1982 Avant-Garde
The Photographer 1983 Classical
Songs From Liquid Days 1986 Classical
1000 Airplanes on the Roof 1989 Classical
Solo Piano 1989 Classical
“Low” Symphony 1993 Classical
Einstein on the Beach (1993 recordings) 1993 Classical
Hydrogen Jukebox 1993 Contemporary Classical
Itaipu / The Canyon 1993 Classical
Kronos Quartet performs Philip Glass 1995 Classical
“Heroes” Symphony: From the Music of David Bowie & Brian Eno 1997 Classical
Circles 1998 Classical
Koyaanisqatsi (1998 re-recording) 1998 Classical
Symphony no. 2 1998 Classical
Águas da Amazonia 1999 Classical
Piano Music 1999 Classical
the CIVIL warS: a tree is best measured when it is down 1999 Classical
Glass Cage 2000 Classical
Symphony no. 3 2000 Classical
Violin Concerto / Prelude and Dance from Akhnaten / Company 2000 Classical
Early Keyboard Music 2001 Classical

Works 108