History Music / PhilipGlass

His music characteristically features repetitive arpeggios and ostinati that slowly evolve and develop harmonically over time. His work in film scores makes him one of the most recognizable and successful composers working today. For the concert stage, he's written 12 symphonies, at least 15 operas, 9 string quartets, and a long list of works for chamber ensembles, orchestra, and solo instruments.

His music characteristically features repetitive arpeggios and ostinati that slowly evolve and develop harmonically over time. His work in film scores makes him one of the most recognizable and successful composers working today. For the concert stage, he's written 12 symphonies, at least 15 operas, 8 string quartets, and a long list of works for chamber ensembles, orchestra, and solo instruments.

* ''Film/TheTrumanShow'': the soundtrack features several existing Glass pieces (he also contributed one original piece, "Truman Sleeps"), and the composer has a brief {{cameo}} as an audio engineer.

Glass' work, while never popular in the mainstream eye (due to both its avant-garde nature and classical music in general having taken a backseat in the music world for centuries), has been highly influential on actually mainstream artists. In particular, Glass' work was a considerable source of inspiration for Music/DavidBowie (who would inspire Glass in turn to compose works based on Bowie's music) and Music/TalkingHeads, who took cues from his brand of minimalism during their own trysts with abstract, avant-garde-inspired rock, which itself would continue to influence later mainstream artists to this very day. As a result, Glass could be considered one of the most influential obscure artists by pure proxy.

** Glass's 1st Symphony (1992) is based off of ''Music/LowDavidBowieAlbum'', featuring movements titled after the instrumental tracks "Subterraneans", "Some Are"[[note]]an outtake from the 1976 ''Low'' sessions included as a bonus track on the 1991 Rykodisc CD re-release of the Bowie album[[/note]], and "Warszawa".

** Glass's 4th Symphony (1996) is based off of ''Music/HeroesDavidBowieAlbum'', featuring movements titled after the tracks ""Heroes"", "Abdulmajid"[[note]]again, an outtake included as a bonus track on the Bowie album's Rykodisc CD release[[/note]], "Sense of Doubt", "Sons of the Silent Age", "Neuköln", and "V2 Schneider".

[[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}The Other Wiki]] gives a thorough [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Philip_Glass List of compositions by Philip Glass]].

''Seriously'' NeedsWikiMagicLove.

* ''Film/TheTrumanShow'': the soundtrack features several existing Glass pieces, and the composer has a brief {{cameo}} as an audio engineer.

Glass' work, while never popular in the mainstream eye (due to both its avant-garde nature and classical music in general having taken a backseat in the music world for centuries), has been highly influential on actually mainstream artists. In particular, Glass' work was a considerable source of inspiration for Music/DavidBowie and Music/TalkingHeads, who took cues from his brand of minimalism during their own trysts with abstract, avant-garde-inspired rock, which itself would continue to influence later mainstream artists to this very day. As a result, Glass could be considered one of the most influential obscure artists by pure proxy.

Philip Glass (b. January 31, 1937) is an American composer known for his work in {{Minimalism}}. He first came to prominence with his experimental opera ''Theatre/EinsteinOnTheBeach'', and since then has written prolifically for theater, film, and concert hall alike. He also founded and directs the Philip Glass Ensemble, which has produced acclaimed performances and recordings of much of his music.

His music characteristically features repetitive arpeggios and ostinati that slowly evolve and develop harmonically over time. His work in film scores makes him one of the most recognizable and successful composers working today. For the concert stage, he's written 12 symphonies, at least 15 operas, 8 string quartets, and a long list of works for chamber ensembles, orchestra, and solo instruments.

* BrokenRecord: Glass's music is often described as repetitive, part of the influence of Minimalist style.
* {{Minimalism}}: Glass's works in the 1960s and 70s are considered among the most important contributions to the genre, but he [[InsistentTerminology resists the label]] as applying to his later works.

* ShoutOut: Three of Glass's symphonies are inspired by Music/DavidBowie's "Berlin Trilogy," a triptych of art rock albums released between 1977 and 1979. Each symphony is based on musical and/or lyrical motifs from each of the three albums in the trilogy:

* SincerestFormOfFlattery: {{Averted|Trope}}. Glass explained that he rejected the style of earlier AvantGardeMusic composers such as Berio and Stockhausen not because he didn't like it, but because he thought it was so good that there was no point in trying to do the same style better.

* SincerestFormOfFlattery: {{Averted|Trope}}. Glass explained that he rejected the style of earlier AvantGardeMusic composers such as Berio and Stockhausen not because he didn't like it, but because he thought it was so good that there was no point in him trying to do the same style better.

Wiki/TheOtherWiki gives a thorough [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Philip_Glass List of compositions by Philip Glass]].

* SincerestFormOfFlattery: {{Averted|Trope}}. Glass explained that he rejected the style of earlier AvantGardeMusic composers such as Berio and Stockhausen not because he didn't like it, but because he thought it was so good there was no point in him trying to do the same style better.

* SincerestFormOfFlattery: {{Averted}}. Glass explained that he rejected the style of earlier AvantGardeMusic composers such as Berio and Stockhausen not because he didn't like it, but because he thought it was so good there was no point in him trying to do the same style better.

His music characteristically features repetitive arpeggios and ostinati that slowly evolve and develop harmonically over time. His work in film scores makes him one of the most recognizable and successful composers working today. For the concert stage, he's written 11 symphonies, at least 15 operas, 8 string quartets, and a long list of works for chamber ensembles, orchestra, and solo instruments.

!!Tropes:

* SincerestFormOfFlattery: {{Averted}}. Glass explained that he rejected the style of earlier AvantGardeMusic composers such as Berio and Stockhausen not because he didn't like it, but because he thought it was so good there was no point in him trying to do the same style better.

TheOtherWiki gives a thorough [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Philip_Glass List of compositions by Philip Glass]].

Philip Glass (b. January 31, 1937) is an American composer known for his work in {{Minimalism}}. He first came to prominence with his experimental opera ''Theatre/EinsteinOnTheBeach'', and since then has written extensively for theater, film, and concert hall alike. He also founded and directs the Philip Glass Ensemble, which has produced acclaimed performances and recordings of much of his music.

His music characteristically features repetitive arpeggios and ostinati that slowly evolve and develop harmonically over time. His work in film scores makes him one of the most recognizable and successful composers working today.

* ''Film/{{Koyaanisqatsi}}''

* {{Minimalism}}: Glass's works in the 1960s are considered among the most important contributions to the genre, but he [[InsistentTerminology resists the label]] as applying to his later works.

* AffectionateParody: Music/PDQBach's piece "Prelude to ''Einstein on the Fritz''" parodies Philip Glass's style with the string section playing five-finger exercises, the orchestra playing Music/JohannSebastianBach's arpeggios from "Prelude in C major", and a bass voice chanting "Koy-hotsy-totsy." The composer Peter Schickele was Glass's friend and classmate at Juilliard, so it was all in good fun.

* ShoutOut: Glass appears as a character in Creator/DavidIves's short play ''Philip Glass Buys A Loaf of Bread'', which spoofs Glass's repetitive musical style.

Philip Glass (b. January 31, 1937) is an American composer known for his work in {{Minimalism}}. He first came to prominence with his experimental opera ''Theatre/EinsteinOnTheBeach'', and since then has written extensively for theater, film, and concert hall alike.