For the Hardcore Fans!!
Kevin Currie-Knight | Newark, Delaware | 01/10/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It is strange indeed; between the two pieces on this excellent CD, this music sounds both unlike anything I've heard from Glass, and completely in-line with Glass's early style. Let me explain. The first piece -"Music for Voices"- starts out as a slow drone of a fifth and gradually adds new tones, each (in pairs) rising and falling in volume. After all the voices are integrated, a rythmic pattern becomes discernable while continuing to oscillate volume between pairs. With audible hand claps, Glass directs changing rythmic patterns to the group untill it ends. This pieces is by far the least Glass-like composition I've heard; another reviewer mentioned that it sounds more like Steve Riech's work and I agree. While suprisingly engaging, the rawness of the recording and all-too-static feel work against the piece. Now to the good stuff - great stuff!! "Another Look at Harmony - part IV", unlike "MFV" can not be reduced to a process. If you liked Music in Twelve Parts and Einstein on the Beach, you will be in awe of this. In fact, it's not an ensemble recording. Via organ, Michael Riesman leads a chorus or voices through a fifty minute tour de force of brilliant vocal writing. Honestly, this is one of the best Glass compositions I've ever heard. In fact, I'm suprised that Glass, being one to rewrite old music for new purposes, did not use some of this in the "Vessels" sequence for Koyaanisqatsi. It is quite similar, while being just as grande as "The Grid". While there are no track breaks, like Music for Changing Parts, this monster is divided into three (maybe four, depending on how you count) distinct sections all varying harmonically. Still, I had to deduct half a star because the four subsections make track breaks that much more sensical. To conclude, if you like early Glass (anything from "Contrary Motion" to "Einstein") don't even debate on whether to get this disc. Trust me, you'll love it."
"Early Voice" Speaks to All Fans of Philip Glass's Music
Mark Walther | Wheaton, Illinois, USA | 04/30/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"2001 was a historic year for everyone who appreciates the music of Philip Glass. The Orange Mountain Music (OMM) record label was born out of project undertaken by Kurt Munkacsi and Don Christensen to archive all the master recordings of Philip Glass. OMM's mission is to share these recordings with those who appreciate Mr. Glass's music. OMM's first release was one of the "Holy Grails" of Glass soundtrack music, "The Music of Candyman". Now, less than ONE year later, OMM's second release "Early Voice" is now available. Yes, my friends, in the span of less than one year, we have been given two wonderful CDs of new, 110% pure Glass music!"Early Voice" contains two incredible recordings illustrating Mr. Glass's "early musical voice" from the 1970's - "Music for Voices" and "Another Look at Harmony, Part 4". For an excellent history regarding these two works, please take a moment to read the information on the recording posted here at Amazon.com - First, the CD notes written by OMM's Don Christensen, ....... "Music for Voices" is the first release of a live recording of Mr. Glass's music. Considering that the recording is close to 30 years old, the sound quality is remarkable, clear and crisp. Special thanks needs to go to Kurt Munkacsi (who originally recorded this work in 1972) and Don Christensen for their care, preservation, and restoration of this historical masterpiece. Hearing this work for the first time was an absolute amazing experience. Just imagine, the soothing voices of Mabou Mines fading in and out of each other with slowly changing patterns conducted by Mr. Glass - by clapping his hands to signal a change in the music. Minus the Latin language, I found myself comparing this to a Gregorian chant in terms of the musical effect of being soothing, calm, and beautiful. "Another Look at Harmony, Part 4" is a breathtaking music experience of rich and dynamic harmonic music for chorus and organ. Another "early voice" of Mr. Glass, the Western Wind Chorus and Michael Reisman (on organ) perform this work brilliantly. One should note that The Western Wind Chorus are the "voices" of Koyaanisqatsi. In addition, if one looks at the credits, "The Voice" of The QATSI Trilogy, the immortal bass voice of Mr. Albert deRuither also performs on this recording. The organ and chorus work together to weave musical patterns and harmonies that I find absolutely beautiful to listen to. For a few brief moments in the piece, the chorus stops and the organ has a solo to set up the next part of the work. The piece lasts for about 50 minutes, but you just don't want it to end!One will not be disappointed with "Early Voice". What ever scale you use, I give "Early Voice" it's highest rating. The more support we give Orange Mountain Music, the more they are able to share more music with us. So, tell your friends, tell your relatives, tell your neighbors that "Early Voice" is available right now on Amazon.com!!!Thanks to Mr. Glass, Kurt Munkacsi, Don Christensen, and everyone at Orange Mountain Music and Euphorbia Productions for sharing this wonderful recording with us."
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CD RELEASE IN 2002. PERIOD.
S. Schindler | Florida | 04/15/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
""The Music of Candyman", released fall of 2001, was a triumphant start for Philip Glass's new Orange Mountain Music label. The second release, "Early Voice", is an even greater triumph. Without any doubt, "Early Voice" is the most important CD release in 2002."Early Voice" contains two works by legendary composer Philip Glass, "Another Look at Harmony, Part IV" and "Music for Voices". At long last, these works are now available. These "unknown" Philip Glass works are true masterpieces."Another Look" is the major work on this disc. It is one of Philip Glass's very greatest works, and that is saying a lot considering how many masterpieces he has written. It is written for chorus (brilliantly sung here by the Western Wind Vocal Ensemble) and electric organ (played flawlessly by Michael Riesman). A fifty minute work, it consists of four sections. The work is romantic, powerful, intoxicating, joyous, magical, humorous, intense, and otherworldly. The music is greater than I could ever describe with words."Another Look at Harmony" was a project started by Philip Glass in 1975, examining ways of combining harmonic progressions with Glass's trademark cyclical and additive rhythmic structure. Parts One and Two were incorporated into the groundbreaking opera "Einstein on the Beach". Part One became the music for the first "Train" scene in Act One. Part Two became "Dance One" in Act Two. Part Three was a solo piece which I haven't been able to find out any information on."Another Look at Harmony, Part IV" was completed in May 1977 (the final page of the score is shown on page 80 of the book "American Minimal Music" by composer Wim Mertens of Belgium). It was comissioned by the Holland Festival. The American premiere came on June 1, 1978 at Philip Glass's first Carnegie Hall concert, with Philip Glass on electric organ with the Gregg Smith Singers instead of the Western Wind. The Carnegie Hall debut concert was a resounding success- it was sold out and the crowd went crazy (the same thing just occurred at Glass's recent 65th birthday concert at Carnegie Hall- the world premiere of Symphony No. 6 and the crowd went crazy!) "Another Look, Part IV" is the most important work by Glass that was written between "Einstein" (1975) and "Satyagraha", his second operatic masterpiece from 1979-80. This recording brings the work to the public exactly as Philip Glass intended- in the original instrumentation of chorus and electric organ with a phenomenal quality recording in performance and sonics.The first time anyone who enjoys Philip Glass listens to "Another Look, Part IV" it should be treated as an event- drink some wine, turn off the lights, put on your headphones, and lay down and let the music overwhelm you. It's an incredible experience and truly an event the first time you put this CD on your stereo. For me, it will be an event listening to this CD every night before I call it a day.The choral writing mixes men's and women's voices on all parts except soprano. The first section begins slow and proceeds to get faster and faster throughout- culminating in one of the most amazingly powerful, haunting, otherworldly stretches of music I've ever heard- it's like a natural phenomena has taken over your soul.After the first section, the second section immediately begins without a break, and once again is another section which becomes faster and faster, but in an entirely different manner than the first section. I find this section to be particularly humorous and as so often occurs in Glass's music, it takes on the effect of an optical illusion, except sonically here of course. What at first sounds like something that's going too fast becomes "right" as one gets used to the new tempo- an amazing illusion. The introductory part of this second section is also worth noting- it is hauntingly, achingly beautiful.The third section is introduced by a keyboard interlude and has an Indian feel to the section, and is starkly different from just about anything else Glass had written up to 1977. The harmonic feel is more modal in this section than the others.The last section ends the work triumphantly, completing a masterpiece on a joyous note, a work full of rhythmic complexities and beautiful sonorities. The first work on the "Early Voice" CD is a work from the early seventies called "Music for Voices". I've been fortunate enough to hear the piece once, and it is fantastic. In addition to the great music, of note here is that the recording of "Music for Voices" is the first live Philip Glass recording ever officially released.From a musical, historical, and technical standpoint, "Early Voice" is easily the most important CD released anywhere in 2002, in any category as well. "Another Look, Part IV" is a major work by Philip Glass that has never been previously released, for one reason or another, but it's time is now!The remastering job done on this recording is nothing short of brilliant- the works sound like they were just recorded! "Music for Voices" was recorded live almost 30 years ago, and "Another Look" was recorded in 1989. These works are critical documents in music history and they're finally available.Anyone interested in beautiful and powerful music, music history, music theory and composition, and just wanting to listen to gorgeous, otherworldly music to get away from the real world should order "Early Voice" today!If only I could give 100 stars- this CD deserves it!PHILIP GLASS IS AMAZING! Kudos to Orange Mountain Music! THANKS TO PHILIP GLASS AND HIS TEAM AT THE LOOKING GLASS STUDIOS!"
Track Listings (2) - Disc #1