Glassworks (Glass)

Glassworks is a chamber music work of six movements by Philip Glass. It is

Glassworks
regarded as a characteristically Glass-like work. Following his larger-scale concert
and stage works, Glassworks was Philip Glass's successful attempt to create a more by Philip Glass
pop-oriented "Walkman-suitable" work, with considerably shorter and more ISWC T-070.067.582-6
accessible pieces written for the recording studio. The studio album was released in Style Postmodern,
1982.[1][2] minimalist
Form Chamber music
“ Glassworks was intended to introduce my music
to a more general audience than had been
familiar with it up to then. ” Language English
Composed 1981
— Philip Glass[3]
Publisher Dunvagen Music
Publishers
Recorded 1982, studio recording
Contents for Sony Classical
Records
Movements
"Opening"
"Floe"
Release and reception
References

Movements
I. Opening (piano (with horn at end)) 6'24"
II. Floe (2 flutes, 2 soprano saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, 2 horns, synthesizer) 5'59"
III. Island (2 flutes, 2 soprano saxophones, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, 2 horns, viola, violoncello, synthesizer)
7'39"
IV. Rubric (2 flutes, 2 soprano saxophones, 2tenor saxophones, 2 horns, synthesizer) 6'04"
V. Façades (2 soprano saxophones, synthesizer, viola, violoncello) 7'20" - This 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).
VI. 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.[4]

"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 contrastingtimbres is characteristic of the piece as a whole. Floe borrows a theme fromfifth symphony of Jean
Sibelius.[5]
"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 filmThe Church.

Release and reception

Glassworks has a 4.5/5 rating on Allmusic.[8] The album was
Professional ratings
commercially successful, introduced Glass' music to a large audience,
and gave Glass widespread name recognition.[1] Review scores
Source Rating
References AllMusic [6]

1. Martin, Erin Lyndal (30 April 2012). "Celebrating The 30th Pitchfork 9.5/10 [7]
Anniversary Of Glassworks By Philip Glass"(http://thequietu
s.com/articles/08659-philip-glass-glassworks). The Quietus. The Quietus. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
2. Schaefer, John (4 September 2012)."Top 10 Essential Philip Glass Recordings"(http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/23189
5-top-10-essential-philip-glass-recordings/). Q2 Music. WQXR. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
3. Philip Glass: Music: Glassworks(http://www.philipglass.com/music/compositions/glassworks.php) Archived (https://w
eb.archive.org/web/20080325125050/http://www .philipglass.com/music/compositions/glassworks.php)2008-03-25 at
the Wayback Machine.
4. Wu, Chia-Ying. The Aesthetics of Minimalist Music and a Schenkerian-Oriented Analysis of the First Movement
"Opening" of Philip Glass' Glassworks(https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc10975/). Denton, Texas: UNT
Digital Library. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
5. https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000005451447.html (in finnish)
6. Young, John (1981). "AllMusic Review" (http://www.allmusic.com/album/philip-glass-glassworks-mw0000157237).
AllMusic. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
7. Walls, Seth Colter. "The Complete Sony Recordings - Review"(http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22527-the-compl
ete-sony-recordings/). Pitchfork Media. Condé Nast. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
8. http://www.allmusic.com/album/philip-glass-glassworks-mw0000157237

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