# Seeking a gentle introduction to Philip Glass. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 23, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456 "2003-07-23T18:58:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/1 "2003-07-23T18:58:06Z")
I’m quite intrigued by Glass, having caught some of his work on the radio, and I want to Learn More. So I sauntered into Barnes & Noble, and found that the guy has quite a catalog. Can anyone help me narrow it down? I’m not particularly interested in his film scores. Althought I’m a huge soundtrack fan, but I think I’d rather get aquainted with some of his “serious” music. Would concertos be a good introduction? The snippets I’ve heard from _Einstein on the Beach_ are incredible. Should I start there? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/2 "2003-07-23T19:15:09Z")
My favorite piece by him is the opera (?) _Akhnaten_. The funeral march especially is Glass at his best, IMO. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Jabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/3 "2003-07-23T19:19:29Z")
The best place to start would be the operas _Akhnaten_ and _Einstein on the Beach_. The film scores, particularly those for the films of Godfrey Reggio, are also very good. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/4 "2003-07-23T19:46:30Z")
I just want to put in a plug for [Steve Reich](http://www.stevereich.com) and [John Adams](http://www.schirmer.com/composers/adams_bio.html). If you like minimalist music, both are IMHO better composers than Glass, just not as famous. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/5 "2003-07-23T19:49:23Z")
Actually, Glass’ music isn’t as bad as it sounds. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/6 "2003-07-23T19:58:32Z")
I’ve only heard _Different Trains_ by Steve Reich, and while it was intellectually interesting, it wasn’t as beautiful IMO as _Akhnaten_. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/7 "2003-07-23T20:03:04Z")
I agree with **Daniel** on the funeral march, FWIW. Now, just because I can’t resist: Knock knock. Who’s there? Knock _knock_. Who’s there? Knock **knock**! Who’s there? _Knock_ knock? Who’s there? Knock knock. Who’s there? Knock…knock. Who’s there? [sub]Knock knock.[/sub] Who’s there? [sup]Knock knock.[/sup] Who’s there? KNOCK KNOCK. WHO’S THERE, &@#^!+?! Philip Glass. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/8 "2003-07-23T20:11:49Z")
Watch Koyaanisqatsi. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/9 "2003-07-23T20:14:10Z")
Another vote for _Einstein on the Beach_. It was my introduction, and is _still_ my favourite. It makes me dizzy and ecstatic by turns. The two recordings made by _The Kronos Quartet_ are pretty accessible, too. (_Company_ and _String Quartets #2-5_) I’d recommend Steve Reich, as well, although in _my_ opinion, Reich is only “almost as good” as Glass, and John Adams bores me. (I really, _really_ wanted to like _Nixon in China_, too, especially since I paid so damn much for it. If it was just the storm sequence and the bit where the libretto is something “something-something-something-I’d-like-to-give-his-goddamn-neck-a-crack… Oh-dick…don’t-say-this,” I’d love it. I guess I just don’t ‘get’ the rest of it.) I have _Shaker Loops_ and _Phrygian Gates_, too, neither of which are as ‘listenable’ as the least of Philip Glass’ works, for me, anyway. Different strokes, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/10 "2003-07-23T20:20:42Z")
Philip Glass? Didn’t he help out on some of the early PDQ Bach albums? And Steve Reich? The guy who did the music for “Oh, Dem Watermelons?” ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/11 "2003-07-23T20:26:07Z")
There’s the song cycle: Liquid Days Einstein on the Beach, Akhnaten, and 1000 Airplanes on the Roof are good places to start. I think his vocal music is more accessable IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/12 "2003-07-25T15:25:30Z")
Philip Glass is a friend of Peter Schickele, the force behind P. D. Q. Bach. and in fact one of the places I heard Glass’s work is on “Schickele Mix,” which is a great radio show–if your public radio station carries it, I highly recommend it. Extremely eclectic and educational. I wasn’t aware that Glass had collaborated on any PDQ Bach stuff, but it wouldn’t suprise me. Thank you for the suggestions, everyone! I’m going to check out a copy of Einstein on the Beach from the library and give it a whirl. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/13 "2003-07-25T15:59:03Z")
Ooooh! You realized I wasn’t joking! I think both Glass and Reich were credited on an early PDQ Bach album–I’ll try digging it out over the weekend. They were all students together at Julliard. Wife has been a longtime fan of the film short, “Oh Dem Watermelons” and thought the theme song was entirely by Stephen Foster. Turns out to be only partially “Massa’s in de Cold, Cold Ground,” the rest, including the “Oh dem watermelons” part being an early composition by Reich. Who says Minimalists don’t have a sense of humor? ---
**Author:** ![august9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7993a0/32.png) [@august9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/august9)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/14 "2003-07-25T18:41:57Z")
I’d say that some of the violin concertos and ‘1000 airplanes on the roof’ are good places to start. Some of his music can be somewhat inaccessible, for instance ‘Music with changing parts’, which I’ve personally had to learn to appreciate. **Podkayne** : Why do you think his soundtracks would not be ‘serious’ music? I find that the soundtracks for Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi are definitely as ‘serious’ as the rest of his music. ---
**Author:** ![Maestro7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@Maestro7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maestro7)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/15 "2003-07-25T21:48:31Z")
I really like the “Heroes” Symphony. It’s not really that far out there, and there are melodies in there you can still pick out, but it’s a good overall piece of music. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/16 "2003-07-25T22:31:18Z")
PDQ Bach? Now you’re talking! Almost makes me want to listen to some music by Glass, NOT! ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/17 "2003-07-26T00:34:54Z")
If you don’t have the patience to sit through the complete operas, you can get [Songs from the Trilogy](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000026Y7/qid=1059179655/sr=1-33/ref=sr_1_33/103-9447622-7921409?v=glance&s=music), which contains excerpts from _Einstein on the Beach, Akehnaten_, and _Satyagraha_, which is my personal favorite–I practically levitate during the opening trio between Gandhi, Arjuna, and Krishna. IMO, _Koyaannisqatsi_ and _Glassworks_ are probably the gentlest introductions to Glass’s music. You might also want to check out his scores for the films **Kundun** , **Candyman** , and **The Hours**. Reich and Adams are OK–I liked _Different Trains_ and bits of _Nixon in China_–but Glass is, IMO, the best of the three. PDQ Bach, eh? Hmm, I wonder if Glass had anything to do with _Iphegenia in Brooklyn_? ---
**Author:** ![HeatMiser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecd19e/32.png) [@HeatMiser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeatMiser)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/18 "2003-07-26T01:30:16Z")
The Ravi Shankar/Philip Glass collaboration _Passages_ tops my personal list in part for the additional breadth of influence. It’s quite lovely and not inaccessible at all IMHO, and the individual pieces stand alone quite well (unlike some operatic works). ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/19 "2003-07-26T01:34:55Z")
I liked the **Thin Blue Line** soundtrack. It does a very good job of inducing fear/anxiety. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456/20 "2003-07-26T03:00:36Z")
One of the single funniest PDQ Bach moments for me has got to be either. “Lo she found herself in a marketplace, and she spoke not, saying. . .” OR “I beg your pardon let me have my say, I thought she was a man, she talked that way, bearded girls don’t get proposed to everyday, O, Lord have mercy on my so-o-o-oooo-lo” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-a-gentle-introduction-to-philip-glass/190456.md?page=2)