#4587, Philip Glass, on His 85th Birthday

Composer and pianist Philip Glass has had a profound influence on modern American music, particularly through his seminal work in minimalism - or as Glass describes it, “music with repetitive structures.” Philip Glass, a performer, and the leader of his own Philip Glass Ensemble, has written film scores, operas, symphonies, oratorios, chamber music, and instrumental solos.

To celebrate Philip Glass on his 85^th birthday, John Schaefer has assembled a rough guide to his concert works, film scores, and collaborations as an introduction to some of his astounding body of work. Hear from the album Glassworks, to the Qatsi trilogy (three silent films by Godfrey Reggio with scores by Philip Glass) to the song cycle, "Songs from Liquid Days," with some opera and chamber works as well.  - Caryn Havlik

“Philip Glass has been an extremely prolific composer, and has had long associations with two major record labels: Sony and Nonesuch. Glass has [also] founded three different record labels during his career: Chatham Square in the 70s, Point Music in the 90s, and his current label, Orange Mountain Music. This latter enterprise has allowed Glass to release dozens of albums.” – From John Schaefer’s 2012 "Essential Philip Glass Recordings" 

Additionally, for fun, and in case you can’t make it to the Laurie Anderson DJ’d afterparty tonight, 1/31 at the Skating Rink at Rockefeller Center, below is more recommended listening:

Philip Glass Collaborations, Show #3943

Philip Glass's Bloodiest Soundtracks in Chamber Arrangements (2015) from Le Poisson Rouge
with violinist Chase Spruill and pianist-arranger Michael Riesman

Philip Glass 75^th Birthday show, 2012 #3296

Philip Glass 75^th Birthday madness on Soundcheck, in-studio, 2012

Wendy Sutter plays Philip Glass “Songs and Poems for Solo Cello” (2008)

Philip Glass, Taxi Driver, BBC4’s program on his hustle and grind before he was a full-time Composer. The show looks at the early years of Minimalism, the New York music and arts scene in the early 1970's, and the odd jobs Glass took to survive.

Program #4587,  Philip Glass 85th birthday (First Aired 1/31/2022) 

ARTIST: Michael Riesman
WORK: Glassworks: Opening [6:23]
RECORDING: Glassworks
SOURCE: Sony Classical Masterworks #90394
INFO: Available on Amazon.com, iTunes, or Spotify

ARTIST: Philip Glass
WORK: Etoile Polaire [2:38]
RECORDING: North Star
SOURCE: Virgin Records, Reissued as Orange Mountain Music OMM 0029
INFO: philipglass.com/recordings/north_star or available on Amazon.com, iTunes, or Spotify

ARTIST: Philip Glass
WORK: Koyaanisqatsi [3:26]
RECORDING: Koyaanisqatsi 1998 Extended Version
SOURCE: Orange Mountain Music 58
INFO: orangemountainmusic.com

ARTIST: Philip Glass
WORK: New Cities in Ancient Lands [5:39]
RECORDING: Powaqqatsi
SOURCE: Nonesuch 79192
INFO: nonesuch.com

ARTIST:  Philip Glass Ensemble, Douglas Perry
WORK: Glass/David Byrne: Open the Kingdom [4:16]
RECORDING: Songs From Liquid Days
SOURCE: Cbs Masterworks #39564
INFO: philipglass.com/recordings/songs_from_liquid_days or try Amazon.com, iTunes, Spotify

ARTIST:  Philip Glass Ensemble
WORK: Philip Glass: Knee Play 5 [5:29]
RECORDING: Einstein on the Beach
SOURCE: Tomato Records (another is on Nonesuch #79323)
INFO: Try discogs.com OR nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Philip Glass, Douglas Perry, New York City Opera Orchestra & Chorus
WORK: Confrontation and Rescue [8:58]
RECORDING: Satyagraha
SOURCE: Cbs Masterworks # 39672
INFO: Try Amazon.com, iTunes, Spotify

ARTIST: Philip Glass
WORK: Sand Mandala [4:01]
RECORDING: Kundun
SOURCE: Nonesuch #7946
INFO: nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Philip Glass
WORK: Low Symphony - finale Warszawa [4:25]
RECORDING: Glass: Low Symphony (from the music of David Bowie)
SOURCE: Point Music #438150
INFO: Try Amazon.com, iTunes, Spotify

ARTIST: Wendy Sutter
WORK: Philip Glass: Song No. 4 [1:32]
RECORDING: Songs and Poems for Solo Cello
SOURCE: Orange Mountain Music 0037
INFO: orangemountainmusic.com