Title: Powaqqatsi Artist: Philip Glass Release Date: 1988 Label: Elektra/Nonesuch Duration: 73:38 Album Type(s): soundtrack UPCs: 075597919226, 075597919219, 075597919240 Genre: Soundtrack Styles: World Fusion, Minimalism, Original Score 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. Serra Pelada :: Philip Glass
2. The Title :: Philip Glass
3. Anthem, Pt. 1 :: Philip Glass
4. That Place :: Philip Glass
5. Anthem, Pt. 2 :: Philip Glass
6. Mosque and Temple :: Philip Glass
7. Anthem, Pt. 3 :: Philip Glass
8. Train to São Paulo :: Philip Glass
9. Video Dream :: Philip Glass
10. New Cities in Ancient Lands, China :: Philip Glass
11. New Cities in Ancient Lands, Africa :: Philip Glass
12. New Cities in Ancient Lands, India :: Philip Glass
13. The Unutterable :: Philip Glass
14. CAUGHT! :: Philip Glass
15. Mr. Suso #1 :: Philip Glass
16. From Egypt :: Philip Glass
17. Mr. Suso #2 With Reflection :: Philip Glass
18. Powaqqatsi :: Philip Glass

Year Type Label Catalog # 1988 CD Elektra/Nonesuch 791922 ------ CD Elektra/Nonesuch 79192-2

No other editions were found for this album.

In 2002, Philip Glass toured in support of the four-disc set Glass on Film, culled from his movie scores. It was good to see that the Philip Glass Ensemble performed the long-underrated Powaqqatsi among his other collaborations with filmmaker Godfrey Reggio, because those electric keyboard works have outlasted the symphonic stuff. Back in the '80s, Glass didn't seem to think so. He aimed to become the thinking filmmaker's response to John Williams by turning his minimalist background to astringent, stately symphonic movie scores for Mishima, Hamburger Hill, and The Thin Blue Line. It's understandable how Powaqqatsi's music was overlooked: The synthesizers and the orchestra and booming percussion were uncomfortably cluttered and showbizzy. Even today, Powaqqatsi's Anthem sounds like a naked attempt at an instrumental hit like Vangelis' theme for Chariots of Fire. On the other hand, the melodic and textural similarities of the symphonic scores, plus the snatches cribbed from them for other movies, have deadened their appeal. Powaqqatsi is straight-up loud. Instead of Koyanisqqatsi's somber organ prelude (as in a Baptist service), Serra Pelada provides the mightiest track in Glass' career: a gamelan Ensemble marching with a drum-and-bugle corp behind the voices of the Latin American Children's Ensemble (set off with a coach's whistle). Almost everywhere, the synthesizers and orchestra work and play together, while the tunes are actually memorable on their own. The three-part New Cities in Ancient Lands, set in China, Africa, and India, features woodwinds and keyboards from the Philip Glass Ensemble, with kalimbas and balafons strewn among the orchestra. Video Dream is simple lyricism, like the English horn that unrolls the Arabic melody of That Place. The ponderous Caught and two of the three Anthem reprises are mere clutter, but somehow Glass makes room for everything, even Foday Musa Suso's kora and vocals on Mr. Suso #1 and Mr. Suso #2 With Reflection. It adds up for a bright world music symphony. ~ John Young, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Raph Tuba, Trombone Alan Spanger French Horn Albert DeRuiter Vibraphone, Bass (Vocal) Angelica Rosa Sepulveda Director Ann Yarbrough French Horn Barbara Wilson Double Bass Bernardo Palombo Lyricist Bill Kipper Mastering Bill Rhodin Trumpet Bob Bielecki Sound Effects, Engineer Carol Pool Violin Connie Kieltyka Engineer, Sound Effects Diva Goodfriend Koven Piccolo, Flute Don Christensen Associate Producer, Engineer Elliott Rosoff Violin Ethan Bauch Bassoon Foday Musa Suso Doussn'gouni, Karinyan, Balafon, ?, Nyanyery, Kora Franc Menusan Tanpura Godfrey Reggio Producer, Director Hector Carrasquillo Director Jack Kripl Piccolo, Flute, Saxophone Jack Rosenberg Viola James Pugh Trombone Jeff Rona Programming, Keyboards, Design, Synthesizer Jill Jaffe Viola Joe Anderer French Horn Joe Passaro Percussion John Moses Clarinet Jon Gibson Didjeridu, Saxophone Karen Karlsrud Violin Karl Bargen Viola Keith O'Quinn Trombone Keith Quinn Trombone Kurt Munkasci Producer Laura Flax Clarinet Lauren Goldstein Bassoon Lawrence Taub Producer Lee Curreri Keyboards Linda Quan Violin Lois Martin Viola Lorraine Cohen Trumpet Martin Goldray Keyboards Michael Parloff Piccolo, Flute Michael Riesman Keyboards, Conductor Mike Finn Bassoon Miles Green Assistant Engineer Neil Balm Trumpet Paul Rice Keyboards Philip Glass Composer, Main Performer Richard Sortomme Violin Roger Squitero Percussion Sanford Allen Violin Sergiu Schwartz Violin Seymour Barab Cello Shaikh Fathy Mady Vocals Sharon Moe French Horn Steve Hartman ?, Clarinet Steven Elson Saxophone Sue Evans Percussion Tony Miranda French Horn Valerie Naranjo Percussion Wilmer Wise Trumpet