"Opening" from Glassworks (Philip Glass)

Philip Glass (b.1937) is arguably one of the most innovative and influential composers of the twentieth century. His orchestral works, operas, film scores, dance pieces, and chamber works successfully fuse Western and world musics, and are among the earliest and most successful experiments of their kind in composition. By the late 1960s, Mr. Glass began composing in a distinctively minimalist compositional style consisting of hypnotically repetitious circular rhythms. This minimalist compositional style emphasizes extreme simplification of rhythms, patterns, and harmonies, often resulting in trancelike effects. Most of these works avoid any sort of climax, development, or direction and are based around constant cycles.

Glassworks (1982) is a six-part collection of instrumental and orchestral works. In the simplest of musical terms, these pieces feature arpeggio versus ostinato, and vice versa (or a chord whose notes are played in rapid succession rather than simultaneously versus a musical phrase that is repeated over and over). Opening is the first of the six-part collection and is for piano solo. It serves as a simple, appropriate opening with its pleasant rhythmic and harmonic melody.

Program Note by Justin R. Stolarik
April 2005

Category:

Music

Tags:

• opening
• from
• glassworks
• philip
• glass
• justin
• stolarik
• university
• of
• texas
• at
• austin

[Marimbalu]

Oh my god. I would have liked SOOOOOO much to play that. I'm incredibly jealous !

It must have been tricky to put the different rythms in each hand straight.

Where are you from, anyway ? Who are the musicians playing these arrangements for marimba ? They are all so lovely.

[datimpster]

@Marimbalu I literally just played from the piano score -- it's not as difficult as you may think! I'm from Madison, Wisconsin, where I'm now a college band director. Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[lordmerlin1]

what instrument is this

[datimpster]

Marimba!

[kukkurah]

Has Philip Glass already given you a kiss for this? Beautiful performance, thank you for sharing it here!

[maxrutc09]

how come with most composers, we say their last name, but with philip glass, we say his first name too?

[solianikus]

great!!!



[193614]

this piece is so dream-like! beautiful playing! I'm going to try and learn this lol

[AfricanLionsHunter]

Aplause and standing ovations !

[ysmnthelight]

I was waiting for you to play one of the repeats on those Roto-Toms. :P All kidding aside, beautiful performance!

[loverliars]

This entire program is incredible. Sorry, I'm referring to the selection of pieces you played in your recital ("Dream" etc.)

(Obviously, this too)

Your playing is superb.

[todimbauer]

ILOVE ILOVE ILOVE ILOVE ILOVE ILOVE ILOVE ILOVE

AUYHAUHAUHAUHAUHAUHAUHAUH =]

[viovio77]

Wow. Love the marimba. Can't comprehend how you do this.

[1945Jaap]

Helemaal geweldig! Om weer helemaal tot rust te komen na een drukke dag.

Just great!

[WakingLife55]

4 people are fucking stupid

[AidenMcKee]

Dude.. I'm hella gonna play this next!