Philip Glass

intro to Philip Glass

this site should help you learn more about this great composer!

Three reasons to love Philip Glass

he's a lovable guy!

1. he's an amazing composer
2. he chooses interesting films to work on, he's not stuck in one genre! (Candyman vs. the Hours)
3. he co-founded the Tibet House (read on...)

Philip Glass at a Glance

Category: image - :Philip_Glass_1 crop.jpg|210px|thumb|Philip Glass, WNYC studios, December 2007Philip Morris Glass (born January 31, 1937) is an American music composer. He is considered one of the most influential composers of the late-20th centuryNaxos Classical Music Spotlight podcast: Philip Glass Heroes Symphony and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public (along with precursors such as Richard Strauss, Kurt Weill and Leonard Bernstein).

Although his music is often, though controversially, described as minimalist, he distances himself from this label, describing himself instead as a composer of "music with repetitive structures." Although his early, mature music is minimalist, he has evolved stylistically. Currently, he describes himself as a "Classicist", pointing out that he is trained in harmony and counterpoint and studied Franz Schubert, Johann Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Mozart with Nadia Boulanger.

Glass is a prolific composer: He has written works for his own musical group which he founded, the Philip Glass Ensemble (for which he still performs on keyboards), as well as operas, musical theatre works, eight symphonies, eight concertos, solo works, string quartets, and film scores. Three of his film scores have been nominated for Academy Awards.

Glass counts many visual artists, writers, musicians, and directors among his friends, including Richard Serra, Chuck Close, Doris Lessing, Allen Ginsberg, Errol Morris, Robert Wilson, JoAnne Akalaitis, John Moran, Godfrey Reggio, Ravi Shankar, Linda Ronstadt, Paul Simon, David Byrne, Arthur Russell, David Bowie, Brian Eno, Roberto Carnevale, Patti Smith, the conductor Dennis Russell Davies, and electronic musician Aphex Twin, all of whom have collaborated with him. Among recent collaborators are Glass's fellow New Yorker Woody Allen, and poet and songwriter Leonard Cohen.

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