seriously. I went to one of this guys concerts last year...It was $40 a ticket and the worst concert I've ever been to. All his compositions sound the same, and he just pounds his ideas to death. Whats's all the hype about?
2007-03-20 11:01:37 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
i once went to a concert where they played an orchestral piece by minimalist composer john adams and the conductor suggested we think about the music as lying on our back and watching the clouds change in the sky. he was refering to the subtle changes that make up minimalist music - the aural patterns are created by small incremental changes in the chordal structures rather than large block changes or a strong recognisable single melodic line.
having said that, i think part of the hype with phillip glass is that in the 70's when minimalist music was brand new and very challenging, his compositions were startling and very exciting. now, 37 years on (!) some of the hype has to be because of that gound breaking back then, much like a devoted fan of pearl jam or U2 will buy everything the band ever releases because it's released by that band. i think he also has a very smart marketing manager, too, who has marketed his 'brand' of music very sucessfully.
phillip glass's compositions do sound similar, in the same way you recognise the sound of a mozart symphony or a U2 song when it's played, even if you haven't heard it before. it's the complexities and subtleties that draw you in if you enjoy minimalist kind of music.
i love minimalist music, and always have, but it is very hard for a lot of people to enjoy. on the other hand, i'd never go to an opera performance, because i really don't enjoy it. but millions of people do!
i guess what i'm saying is - well done for exposing yourself to music you perhaps hadn't heard before, or not performed live, anyway. if you didn't enjoy it, fine. try another concert you've not been to before, try some other classical composer you haven't heard of. there's lots out there to explore, and minimalism is a very small and quite specialised part of the spectrum of classical music.
2007-03-20 11:25:32 · answer #1 · answered by cakefork 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Philip Glass composes and performs ambient music which by its very nature is somewhat repetitive, often dark. His work is critically acclaimed for good reason.
What's the deal with attending a concert without knowing anything about the performer?
2007-03-20 18:11:09 · answer #2 · answered by patsy99 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
If Phillip Glass's music is not your cup of tea (i hear ya, brother), then might I suggest you sample some of Jean Michel Jarre's music. Try a compliation CD.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Michel_Jarre
2007-03-20 18:44:47 · answer #3 · answered by Ben There 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
he's just so.. transparent.
I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself.
TT
2007-03-20 18:10:20 · answer #4 · answered by The Atomic Punk 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋