Glassworks (composition)

Glassworks is a chamber music work of six movements by Philip Glass. Following his larger-scale concert and stage works, it was Glass's successful attempt to create a more pop-oriented "Walkman-suitable" work, with considerably shorter and more accessible pieces written for the recording studio.

Glassworks
by Philip Glass
StylePostmodern, minimalist
FormChamber music
LanguageEnglish
Composed1981 (1981)
PublisherDunvagen Music Publishers
Recorded1982 (1982), studio recording for Sony Classical Records

The LP and cassette were released in 1982,[1][2] each with its own separate mix: the record album intended for home listening and the tape for personal cassette players.[3] The headphone-specific mix, previously only available on cassette, was reissued digitally 2016.[4][5]

Glassworks was intended to introduce my music to a more general audience than had been familiar with it up to then.

— Philip Glass[6]

Movements
  1. "Opening" (piano, with horn at end) 6:24
  2. "Floe" (2 flutes, 2 soprano saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, 2 horns, synthesizer) 5:59
  3. "Island" (2 flutes, 2 soprano saxophones, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, 2 horns, viola, violoncello, synthesizer) 7:39
  4. "Rubric" (2 flutes, 2 soprano saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, 2 horns, synthesizer) 6:04
  5. "Façades" (2 soprano saxophones, synthesizer, viola, violoncello) 7:20
    This movement has its origins in the film score Koyaanisqatsi, but was ultimately not used in the film; it is often performed as a work in its own right (ISWC T-010.461.089-0).[7]
  6. "Closing (flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, horn, viola, violoncello, piano) 6:03
    A reprise of "Opening".

"Opening"

"Opening" uses triplet eighth notes, over duple eighth notes, over whole notes in 4
4. Formally it consists of three groups of four measure phrases of three to four chords repeated four times each, ABC:||ABC, which then merges with the next movement, "Floe" with the entrance of the horns.[8] The movement has been arranged for and performed by Gamelan Pacifica.

"Floe"

There are two formulaically identical sections to the movement. Although rhythmically driven, the melodic implications of "Floe" occur somewhat coincidentally by orchestration. There is no modulation, but the harmonic progression simply repeats over and over again. The layering of contrasting timbres is characteristic of the piece as a whole. Floe borrows a theme from Jean Sibelius's fifth symphony.[9]

"Rubric" and "Façades" both appeared in the 2008 documentary about Philippe Petit, Man on Wire. "Floe" was featured on the soundtrack of the 1989 Italian horror film The Church.

Release and reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Pitchfork9.5/10[11]

The album was commercially successful, introduced Glass's music to a large audience, and gave Glass widespread name recognition.[1]

References
  1. Martin, Erin Lyndal (April 30, 2012). "Celebrating The 30th Anniversary Of Glassworks By Philip Glass". The Quietus. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  2. Schaefer, John (September 4, 2012). "Top 10 Essential Philip Glass Recordings". Q2 Music. WQXR. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  3. Penchansky, Alan (March 27, 1982). "Glass Gets 'Walkman Mix'". Billboard. p. 83.
  4. The Philip Glass Ensemble [@philipglassens] (January 27, 2022). "Today's featured recording is, Glassworks: Specially Mixed for Your Personal Cassette Player (2016)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. Walls, Seth Colter (November 14, 2016). "Philip Glass: The Complete Sony Recordings". Pitchfork.
  6. Philip Glass: Music: Glassworks Archived March 25, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Facades – Philip Glass". Philip Glass.
  8. Wu, Chia-Ying (May 2009). The Aesthetics of Minimalistic Music and a Schenkerian-Oriented Analysis of the First Movement "Opening" of Philip Glass' Glassworks. Denton, Texas: UNT Digital Library. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  9. "Musiikki | Säveltäjälegenda Philip Glass lainasi Sibeliukselta, unohti Mika Waltarin, palasi Helsinkiin ja kommentoi nyt Cheekin lopettamispäätöstä". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  10. Young, John (1981). "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  11. Walls, Seth Colter (14 November 2016). "The Complete Sony Recordings - Review". Pitchfork Media. Condé Nast. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
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