Category Archives: Music
Some Were, and Some Are
Philip Glass for the New Listener
So, you’ve heard of Philip Glass and want more. The list of Glass compositions and performances is very long, so choosing what to listen to next is not a trivial task. I’m here to help. This post is a curated list of the approachable Glass pieces that I recommend for those just starting in their shiny new Glass obsession.
On traditional opera
Glass surprises
Whenever I talk about Philip Glass to people outside of the musical world, I usually meet with blank stares. When asked if there was anything by Glass that they may have heard, I start listing some of the many, many soundtracks that Philip Glass has scored (and repurposed), and I usually get an “a ha!” from the person… Read More »
I am a Glass Head
Brussels & Einstein on the Beach – June 2019
My brother and I enjoy seeing interesting or notable performances of the music of Philip Glass. Having learned of an unusual new performance of the music of Einstein on the Beach taking place in Brussels, we knew we had to make a brief trip there from our homes in Portland, Oregon, USA to attend. This would be our… Read More »
Interstitial Music on NPR
Have you ever heard an NPR feed that has little or no local stuff added to it? It is awesome! There are little nuggets of nice little interesting or heart-warming mini-stories, and also an eclectic mix of gorgeous instrumental music: some classical, some, blues, jazz, funky, or whatever. These musical interludes are perfectly programmed interstitials between the stories,… Read More »
On Meeting Philip Glass
Anybody who knows me even in the slightest knows that I’m just a tad partial to the music of Philip Glass. Late in the Fall of 2017 I went to a Portland performance of his Dracula, performed by the Kronos Quartet with Phil playing the second keyboard, (a part he later added to the piece just for himself… Read More »
The Music of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Amsterdam and Einstein on the Beach – January 2013
I traveled to Berkeley, California, in October 2012 to see Philip Glass’ Einstein on the Beach. It was the first time I’d seen it, and it was nothing short of spectacular. The following month, I was telling my brother, Tim, about it. I told him that I was kicking myself that I hadn’t arranged to see it again… Read More »