We had the fortunate experience of having seen Glass' "Anknaten" this
summer as produced by Chicago Opera Theatre. The most fascinating thing
that we found in the music was how, although it seemed repetitive at
first, the music changed keys & tempos to suit the mood of the scene.
We also picked up a recording of "The Civil War". It had a similar effect
but I don't think that the impact is as great if you can't see the action
along with it.
Pat
On Sat, 13 Jan 2001 18:21:00 -0700 "Lloyd W. Hanson"
<lloyd.hanson@n...> writes:
<lloyd.hanson@n...> writes:
> Dear Dr. John and Vocalisters
>
> Minimalism as a compositional style works if you allow the excessive
> diversity of ideas that are expressed through variation, an
> opportunity to
> work. The outward appearance of this music seems dull and boring
> because
> the same material or very little material is used over and over
> again. But
> by using less it is possible to create more through variation.
>
> I would probable never have been attracted to this music were it not
> that my
> daughter has premiered three of Phillip Glass' works (The Fall of
> the House
> of Usher, Hydrogen Jukebox, and The White Raven). I became aware
> that few
> orchestra musicians can play this music correctly because they
> underestimate its difficulties. It is not uncommon for the
> conductor to
> reduce the number of rehearsals because the musicians play the same
> thing
> over and over again. But each group of repeats of the material is a
> variation. One conductor thought he was aware of all of these
> variation
> only to discover that Glass had to spend an hour coaching him on
> only the
> first few pages.
>
> Consequently, the music is so complex that it is difficult for the
> mind to
> absorb. The attention shuts down and the music appears boring. It
> is
> really the opposite of boring.
>
> Glass picked up these concepts in the music of India and his work
> with Ravi
> Shanker, and through his devotion to Buddhism.
>
> Minimalism is not to everyone's liking but I have friends who cannot
> stand
> anything by Wagner for the same reasons.
>
> Such an interesting art, this Music.
>
> Regards
> --
> Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA
> Professor of Voice, Vocal Pedagogy
> School of Performing Arts
> Northern Arizona University
> Flagstaff, AZ 86011
>
>
>
>
>
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