Title: Music with Changing Parts Artist: Philip Glass Release Date: 1994 Label: Elektra/Nonesuch Duration: 61:38 Album Type(s): Avant-garde UPCs: 075597932522, 075597932546 Genre: Avant-Garde Styles: Minimalism, Modern Composition Moods: Ambitious, Cerebral, Circular, Epic, Complex, Elegant, Restrained, Sophisticated, Uncompromising, Calm/Peaceful, Reserved Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Music With Changing Parts

Year Type Label Catalog # 1994 CD Elektra/Nonesuch 79325 1994 CD Elektra/Nonesuch 79325

No other editions were found for this album.

Music With Changing Parts is one of the seminal works in Philip Glass' career, and a defining point for the genre known as minimalism. Recorded in 1971, five years before he would break through to the public consciousness with Einstein on the Beach (which, arguably, was the moment his music ceased to be minimalist in the strict sense of the term), it represents the genre in a very pure form. Over its hour-long course, it both maintains a steady-state of sameness while percolating with all manner of variations. In retrospect, it's easy to see the affinities to the contemporaneous work of Terry Riley (A Rainbow in Curved Air and In C) and Steve Reich (Drumming), though all would soon branch apart. Here, the electric keyboards provide a pulsating substructure over which the winds, violin, and voice cast long, sighing lines forming the essential tension between dreaminess and rigor. There's also a palpable sense of excitement in the performance, the musicians very aware that they're on to something new and wonderful. This is an aspect of Glass' work which would diminish over time as his compositions became increasingly rote and academic. Listeners who only know his music from the period after he had attained a degree of pop stardom should certainly hear his more vital, formative compositions including this one and Music in Similar Motion. ~ Brian Olewnick, All Music Guide

Name Credits Art Murphy Piano (Electric) Barbara Benary & Vincent McDermott Vocals, Electric Violin, Voices Beatriz Schiller Photography Bérénice Reynaud Translation Dickie Landry Sax (Tenor), Voices, Flute, Sax (Soprano), Vocals, Mixing, Piccolo Johnny Gall Cover Design Jon Gibson Vocals, Organ, Sax (Soprano), Flute Klaus Kertess Producer Konstanze Streese Translation Kurt Munkasci Mixing, Original Recording Reissue, Engineer, Electronics Michael Riesman Original Recording Reissue Philip Glass Organ, Producer, Mixing, Flute (Alto), Main Performer Robert Fries Engineer Robert Prado Trumpet, Voices, Flute, Vocals Steve Chambers Organ Tim Page Liner Notes