Amazing Glass:
- The man and his music.
I had tried to connect with Philip Glass’ music before, and I failed. But I achieved a breakthrough last night, when I carefully listened to the following DVD:
“Glass – A Portrait of Philip In Twelve Parts”
I met a man who is friendly, has a sense of humor, is deeply spiritual, seems to love his family, and is really easy-going. Above all, I saw a man who is totally secure in himself and his creative art. He simply does not need the approval of others.
There are many aspects to this study of a man, so I will just mention a few things:
Glass graduated from Juilliard, yet he says that: “When I studied with Nadia Boulanger, she taught me how to be a composer”.
He made movies with Woody Allan and with Martin Scorsese. And Woody Allan said:
“I like to work with Philip because I can simply tell him that I do not like what he’s composed. Philip then goes home and returns the next morning with something new. He’s not angry; he does not argue, he just gives me something else, and I can explore how the new music works for me”.
Mr. Glass is surrounded by a group of friends, family, and a set of spiritual and professional associates who form a tight circle of support around him.
Here is Philip Glass’ 4th Symphony, with Conductor Juri Lebedev directing the ‘Uni Orchester’ of Leipzig:
http://youtu.be/3Bwg6KAPnFQ
And next, here is the ‘Bruckner Orchester Linz’ conducted by Dennis Russell Davies performing the final movement of Philip Glass’ Symphony No. 4 “Heroes” based on the music of David Bowie and Brian Eno.
Tags: Philip Glass, Woody Allan, Martin Scorsese, Twelve parts, Dennis Russell Davies
