Philip Glass 80 jaar: best of the rest
One of the most famous contemporary composers still alive today, turns eighty at the end of the month. Despite his old age, Philip Glass tours and composes away. His work is controversial, hugely popular and he’s extremely productive. The list goes on and on: operas, concert works, ballet music and soundtracks.
The minimal classics are fairly well-known, but Glass has also written a huge amount of unheard gems. In this Feature, two hours of the ‘best of the rest’ of Philip Glass, including his very first Felman-esque opus song, a horror soundtrack, Indian cross-over and a branch into opera with Laurie Anderson.
1-2. P.D.Q. Bach (Peter Schickele): ‘Introduction + Prelude to Einstein on the Fritz’ for orchestra, op P.D. Q. Bach: 1712 Overture & Other Musical Assaults.
The Greater Hoople Area Off-Season Philharmonic + Peter Schickele (narrator, piano) conducted by Walter Bruno.
Telarc 80210 CD
3-5. Philip Glass: ‘String Quartet No. 1’ (1966), op The Duke Quartet – Barber, Dvorak, Glass.
The Duke Quartet.
Collins 13862 CD
6. Philip Glass: ‘Music for Voices’ (1972) op Glass: Early Voice.
Mabou Mines koor.
Orange Mountain 0004 CD
7-8. Philip Glass + Ravi Shankar: ‘Offering’ + ‘Ragas in minor scale’ (1990), op Glass + Shankar: Passages.
Philip Glass Ensemble + chamber orchestra.
Private 2074-2-P CD
9-11. Philip Glass: from the soundtrack ‘Candyman’ (1990): ‘It Was Always You, Helen’, ‘The Slave Quarters’ + ‘Annie’s Theme’. The music of Candyman.
Philip Glass Ensemble.
Orange Mountain 0003 CD
12-16. Philip Glass: Les Enfants Terribles (1996, slot: scenes 16-20), op Glass: Les Enfants Terribles.
Christine Arand, soprano; Philip Cutlip, bass-baritone; Hal Cazalet, narrator+ Valerie Komar, mezzo-soprano + three keyboards conducted by Philip Glass.
Orange Mountain OMM0019 CD
17. Philip Glass: The Civil Wars (Act V – The Rome Section, 1984), slot (Scene C), op Glass: The Civil Wars.
American Composers Orchestra + Morgan State University Choir conducted by Dennis Russell Davies, with Laurie Anderson, vocals.
Nonesuch 79487-2 CD
