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Rating: “…If as an artist he places himself outside certain romantic clichés, with his music he revisits the romantic style and many other genres such as baroque, symphonism, jazz, rock, pop. And it is surprising to find in many of his works, beyond those already mentioned, events, themes, and characters common to the radical movement. However, beyond the good intentions, music must be judged for what it is. You can be inspired by the highest ideals, pursue commendable humanitarian ends, and produce mediocre, failing artistic works. This is not the case with Glass. His music, highly refined and enchanting, stands up to the best of Western tradition. Indeed, it is noted that on the stereo of the one writing to you, Glass's music stays longer than Handel's oratorios, Bach's concerts, Beethoven's symphonies…” Text delivered to Marco Pannella and Massimo Bordin (director of Radio Radicale) in 1996.
In 1993, based on the first opera of the Berlin trilogy composed by David Bowie and Brian Eno, Philip Glass's “The Low Symphony” was released. Glass is an appreciated and influential creator of minimalist music (understood as excessive repetition of rhythmic tones), among the most brilliant contemporary composers. Before CDs and DVDs existed, the tracks recorded on vinyl were already influenced in the compositional phase by their positioning on side “A” or side “B” of the record. Low (as and even more in the following Heroes) is typically subject to the rational division of tracks into the two very different sides.
Almost two records in one (let us remember that Bowie wanted to title it “New Music, Night And Day” precisely to emphasize the different settings of the tracks in the first part compared to the second). The second part, in particular, consists of electronic compositions entirely outside the contemporary canons (Low is from January 1977). This very part will be the object of Philip Glass's revisitation on the three titled tracks “Subterraneans,” “Some Are,” and “Warszawa.” In 1996, as a logical continuation of the previous work, Philip Glass sets to reconstruct the Heroes of Bowie-Eno, originally released at the end of 1977. Here the composer's work will have a broader scope, and no fewer than 6 tracks will be the subject of his treatment. As Glass will explain in his biography, in both cases, his work will not be the pure and simple adaptation of rock music to orchestral music. He wanted to change the approach to orchestral arrangement, pretending to be present with Bowie and Eno at the moment of the original composition. So he will attempt to appropriate their style, their composition methodologies, the underlying idea that guided them, and the decadent and painful state of mind that tormented them. The result is indeed a new work that maintains the charm of the originals, where Glass's ability does not “cover” Bowie-Eno's work but adds to it, fuses with it with new melodies and new sounds. Glass will say that he felt those melodies as his own, as if he had composed them along with the other two.
Decca, in 2003, published this “Bowie & Eno Meet Glass” in which, for the price of a single CD, you gain the omniscience of both symphonies. An excellent opportunity to expand your horizons, a profound opening towards symphonic music, a pleasant approach towards a more “cultured” idea of music through two symphonies that are not difficult to listen to.
If you love very good stuff literature, classical music and classics..."Heroes Symphony" will be the perfect companion for your most selected coffee, tea, wine and your best friends! ...A RARE masterpiece Beethoven, Bach and Mozart would be delighted...a continuation of the dreams of King Crimson, Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, ELP, Peter Gabriel and Roger Waters. This disc will be a perfect inspirational to keep your positive energy flowing!!! Get it. A great gift to all the people who love great histories...a great classic far beyond any doubt! (http://classical-music.mainseek.com/10350/25-16453/Philip_Glass.html)
If you don’t know who Philip Glass is, try thinking of the films “Hamburger Hill,” “The Thin Blue Line,” “Kundun,” “The Truman Show,” and “The Hours,” just to clarify.
P.S. Joy Division fans should get the albums “Low” and “Heroes,” which were the major influences on the music of the late Ian Kevin Curtis and co.
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