Synopses & Reviews
Writings on Glass highlights the life and career of America's best-known classical composer, Philip Glass. Well-known as a champion of minimalism, Glass's operas (
Einstein on the Beach;
Satyagraha), film scores (
Koyaanisqatsi;
The Thin Blue Line), and symphonic and popular works have made him a dominant figure on the American musical landscape. This book traces the development of Glass's varied work through in-depth interviews, along with critical writings by leading musicologists.
The book opens with "Metamorphosis," a section describing Glass's life and career in detail, with an introductory essay by Tim Page followed by an extensive interview conducted with Glass on his early musical development. Part II of the book focuses on Glass's instrumental work, including his well-known chamber work Music in 12 Parts, and his life as a touring composer/musician. Part III focuses on his multimedia/theatrical works, including his 1990 collaboration with Allen Ginsberg on Hydrogen Jukebox. The book concludes with a bibliography, complete list of Glass's works, and discography for building a record collection.
Compiled with the participation of Philip Glass, and drawing on his extensive archives, this book promises to become a standard for lovers of contemporary music, as well as an important reference for professional musicologists and music libraries.
Review
"The most striking feature of Writings on Glass is its attention to the composer's musical development....Valuable for Glass aficionados as well as those just getting into his music." Jeffrey L. Perlah, Billboard
Review
"Among the most entertaining excerpts are Glass's recollections of his studies in Paris with Nadia Boulanger." Library Journal
Synopsis
Richard Kostelanetz has gathered a lively and varied collection of writings about Philip Glass's work, along with several interviews and a conversation between Glass and sculptor Richard Serra. The chronology of the works and discography have been updated for the paperback edition.
Synopsis
Philip Glass, composer of symphonies, operas (Einstein on the Beach, Akhnaten, Orphand#233;e), film scores (Kundun, Mishima, Koyaanisqatsi), songs, and music for dance is a musician who determined early on that he wanted to compose independently, apart from institutions. That decision has made him a controversial figure among academic musicians, in spite of his rigorous training at Juilliard, and with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Richard Kostelanetz has gathered a lively and varied collection of writings about Philip Glass's work, along with several interviews and a conversation between Glass and sculptor Richard Serra. The chronology of the works and discography have been updated for the paperback edition.
About the Author
Richard Kostelanetz has written and edited numerous volumes on music and the arts, including Nicolas Slonimsky: The First Hundred Years, John Cage (ex)plain(ed) and the Frank Zappa Companion.