Music: Smooth as Glass.
written by Julie R. Neidlinger 2 comments link this post
One thing I like about having Direct TV, despite very little of worth being on to actually watch, is that we also get a number of channels up in the 800's that are essentially XM Satellite radio. I have my stereo hooked into my TV setup (through a mess of cords that made the Direct TV guy wince) and so I often listen to VOX or one of the other classical channels available. I'm re-discovering some great music and making lists of composers and songs I need to look for in CD form. It was through this setting that I was re-reminded of a composer I had let slide and not listened to in a while.
The recommendation I'm passing on to you today is another modern American composer whose music has also been used in movies because he is often called upon to compose for films. The music for Peter Weir's The Truman Show actually stole the show, in my opinion. The Hours also featured his work, as do a few other films. Yep, I'm talking about Philip Glass.
His style is distinct, a kind of driving movement that builds on often subtle and unusual off-beats right in the middle of a passage with almost opposing forces combining in incredible ways. My favorite piece of his is the Violin Concerto. That, my friends, is an amazing bit of work and very much Philip Glass. It reminds me quite a bit of some of the songs by James Newton Howard for the film The Village. Hilary Hahn's playing on that soundtrack has made it one of my top five favorite soundtracks. If you liked that style of Vivaldi-ish driving violin combined with a modern touch, you'll like Glass' Violin Concert I, II, and III. You'll also enjoy some of the other work on the CD I linked to. I'd also recommend the soundtrack to The Truman Show and his other films.
| tag: philip glass |
Labels: music
Copyright (c) Julie R. Neidlinger 5/16/2006 12:01:00 AM
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2 Comments:
If you like Glass, you should definitely check out the soundtrack to Anima Mundi.
To me, it's his best work.
By 
HeavyDluxe, at
16/5/06 10:28
Thanks for the tip - I will seriously check it out when I go to Fargo this weekend. If I can't find it there I'll get it off of Amazon. I'm always looking for new, good music.
By Julie, at
16/5/06 10:38
