So why do we listen to music? Why do we compose music? Of course music to
an individual is a personal matter and there can be many reasons why one may
get so involved in music. Some people just listen to it, some perform, some
compose, some, but very few, don't listen to music. Music is so important
in todays society that it would be unbearable without it. We all encounter
with some form of music everyday.
I have studied music since I was six years old, playing on my brother keyboard. Having taken lessons in the piano and now studies for a degree in music, this subject has become quite important in my life. Composition has developed and as a composer, I am always looking for new ideas. One of these ideas was "Minimalism".
Minimalism came about strongly in the sixties with La Mont Young, Terry
Riley, Steve Reich and Philip Glass.; all of which went about minimalism I
their own way. Philip Glass and Steve Reich are the two composers which
influenced me most.
Philip Glass has held my interest for many years now, but not so because of the minimalism content but more because of the composer himself. Glass has produced so much material I sometimes wonder whether he is actually writing his own music. During which he will perform around sixty concerts a year, he also manages to write an opera, a symphony and songs.
My interest came more so with the introduction to me of "Powaqqatsi". This
is a remarkable work, and certainly a must for any listener. His Dance
Pieces intrigued me with such simple material and interesting orchestration.
Koyaaniqatsi provided a new look into music for me that I never imagined.
The Canyon surprised me with such vast techniques used.
Glass's musical as a whole is quite un-cheerful. It is rarely a bright and happy sound. He manages to create emotional but exiting music but with often a depressing feature tagged along.
My interest will stay with Glass for years to come but I am anxious to hear the unheard and unrecorded works of Glass. Maybe we will have to wait until he is no longer composing to find those mysteries. All musicians have a favorite and Glass is one for many reasons. One of which is my hate for atonal music; lets not have an argument about that. He lays an interesting pattern in his music and in my notes you will find that I justify me reasons for elaborating on a single composer.
Please take a look at:
GlassPages - Philip Glass on the Web
[ 
]