A set of five pieces by Philip Glass, stasis of harmonic accompaniment is used to good effect in this work. At its most fundamental level, the music consists of sparse chords and oscillating harmonic lines. The chord progression repeats itself to create a hypnotic effect. What is fascinating about his melody is the intensity it creates with so little material. Chromatism plays a part in this, of course; but more importantly, the repetition of a single idea forces the listener to focus on what the music is trying to say, sort of like hammering in the point. It is an issue contentious in effect - repetition may lead to boredom, or it may be a more effective means of communicating compositional intent. Minimalist music is frequently used in film soundtracks because of this simplicity and directness. It is music stripped to its most elementary form - making it more accessible to the audience in terms of mood. To be frank, this conflicts with our modern day fast-paced media: visual and aural inputs vary from second to second, whereas Glass' metamorphoses play like a broken record that keeps rewinding at the end of every 8 bars.
This is music for the patient, or those with a fetish for simplicity, to sit and appreciate it's repetitive, hypnotic effect, to listen for essence rather than for diversity - that's the underlying idea to me. The first and last metamorphoses are rather identical, whereas the three in the middle differ in little details like meter and key. The main musical devices are the same throughout - after all, precious little changes between each stage of metamorphosis. The reiteration of the original motifs at the end of the metamorphosis constructs a paradox, but it is not aurally disagreeable because metamorphosis I contains one of the most impactful melodies. Perhaps someone may care to venture a reason for this recap.
The score is available at the esplanade library, published by Chester Music. The book also contains other interesting works, such as Wichita Vortex Sutra (written to the poem by Allan Ginsberg on the Vietnam war), and Mad Rush. It is not technically demanding, but much concentration is required to capture details such as the number of repetitions of a bar. For more of Glass' music, the film Koyaanisqatsi is also available at the esplanade library.
Save target as to listen to Metamorphosis I
Anon.
This is music for the patient, or those with a fetish for simplicity, to sit and appreciate it's repetitive, hypnotic effect, to listen for essence rather than for diversity - that's the underlying idea to me. The first and last metamorphoses are rather identical, whereas the three in the middle differ in little details like meter and key. The main musical devices are the same throughout - after all, precious little changes between each stage of metamorphosis. The reiteration of the original motifs at the end of the metamorphosis constructs a paradox, but it is not aurally disagreeable because metamorphosis I contains one of the most impactful melodies. Perhaps someone may care to venture a reason for this recap.
The score is available at the esplanade library, published by Chester Music. The book also contains other interesting works, such as Wichita Vortex Sutra (written to the poem by Allan Ginsberg on the Vietnam war), and Mad Rush. It is not technically demanding, but much concentration is required to capture details such as the number of repetitions of a bar. For more of Glass' music, the film Koyaanisqatsi is also available at the esplanade library.
Save target as to listen to Metamorphosis I
Anon.
2 comments:
hmm, i'd say it's a snide comment on how everything in the world is circular. nothing really goes anywhere. "when people run in circles it's a mad world", as it were. even natural metamorphosis returns to its origins, when for example butterflies lay eggs which turn to caterpillars, which pupate and turn to butterflies, ad infinitum.
this is not really a fantastic recording of the works. Glass is not a very good pianist himself. Listen to Bruce Brubaker's rendition--it is the best recording I have heard so far.
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