Introduction
Classical music is a vibrant and living tradition today. Classic music emerged in the beginning of the 11th century in the West. The music has a unique staff notation thereby making unique and classic. In the recent past, new forms of music have emerged thereby threatening the survival of classical music. Such music genres include hip-hop, rock, country and soul. However, some composers and musicians continue to make the music vibrant.
Such musicians include people like Philip Glass and Lowell Liebmann. Despite the challenges resulting from these new forms of music, classic music has remained unique than all the other forms of music composition. This paper will discuss Philip Glass who is one of the living composers writing in the classical music tradition. The paper will discuss his background and musical influences. The paper will also discuss Akhnaten, one of the composer’s famous pieces.
Philip Glass: Background
Philip is a famous American composer. He is among the influential composers of the last century. Due to the unique nature of his music, many people have classified under classical compositions. Philips Glass was born in 1937, January 31 in Maryland. He was the son of Benjamin Glass and Ida Gouline.
His father was a businessperson. He owned a record store where he kept various music pieces and compositions. His father’s collection also consisted of western classical compositions and music operas. This included some compositions by Ludwig Beethoven and Schubert (Hoffer 73). It is notable that the compositions made a unique impression on Glass. He wanted to study music and become a great composer later in his life.
As a child, Philip decided to study the flute at the famous Peabody Music Conservatory. He studied philosophy and mathematics at the University of Chicago. While living in Chicago, Philip Glass made an important discovery of Webern. The discovery helped him compose his first twelve-tone trio. In 1954, the upcoming composer went to France where he saw the films of Cocteau Jean. The films made a strong impression on Glass.
He decided to join the Juilliard Music School to study keyboard and composition. He won the BMI Student Composition Award in 1959. In 1960, he composed his first concerto. Since then he has composed various orchestral, chamber and choral pieces. Since the 1960s, Philip Glass has produced various music, compositions, operas and poems (Potter 42). These achievements have made his one of the widely recognized composers of classical music.
Musical and Other Influences
Philip decided to become an artist after listening to various chorals and compositions from his father’s music store when he was a child. He decided to pursue music composition in school. He studied the keyboard and flute in different music schools. The films of Cocteau also inspired him to become a composer than ever before.
He also gained much knowledge and ideas from people like William Bergsma and Vincent Persichetti. The composition teachers equipped him with the needed ideas and skills to become a music composer. For very many years, Philip Glass was interested in different compositions by people like Ludwig Beethoven among others. These musical influences created a strong impression on him thereby making it possible to pursue his dreams and goals (Potter 84).
In 1964, the composer received a scholarship to study under Nadia Boulanger. While in Paris, Glass learned many ideas and skills as a composer. The lessons would make a lasting influence on him. This influenced all his future work. However, Glass realized that most of the music by the French musicians was not exciting.
The only thing that impressed him was the theatre performance and films (Hoffer 38). During the time, Glass became friends with famous people like Nancy Graves and Richard Serra. These people influenced his ideas and skills. He continued to compose new works and music for different theatre performances and movies. The experience helped Glass improve his skills as a composer.
Throughout his life, Glass has travelled a lot in search for ideas and inspiration. He has travelled widely thereby gaining much experience as a music composer. He described his work as classic and the reason it has remained outstanding for years. In the 1980s, Glass decided to turn to opera and symphonic music (Knowlson 19).
By this time, Glass had acquired enough skills and ideas about music composition. It is notable that his music is similar to electronic, world, and rock music. Philip has also collaborated with various artists such as Mick Jagger, Suzanne Vega and David Byrne among others. Philip Glass has also inspired many people around the world.
Philip Glass’ Akhnaten Opera
Akhnaten is an outstanding composition by Glass. The opera is composed in three acts. Philip Glass considers the work as one of his greatest opera compositions. The composition is based on the religious convictions and the life of Pharaoh Amenhotep IV of Egypt. The composer wrote the composition in 1983. However, it premiered in 1984.
The orchestra by Glass adopted the size used in the 19th century music opera. This includes 2 eboes, 2 flutes, 2 bassoons, 2 clarinets, 2 tuba, 2 trumpets, 8 celli, 2 trombones, percussion, tuba, 12 violas, and 6 double basses. The use of the orchestra size used during the 19th century music opera makes the work attractive and unique than most of the modern day opera compositions (Hoffer 84).
Due to the small size of the Opera house where the composition was to be performed for the first time, Glass decided to avoid the use of the 20 violins. This gave the orchestra a somber, darker character. However, the approach made it easier for it to fit the intended subject. The reason why I consider the composition as one of Glass’ greatest compositions is that it followed the conventional aspects of opera orchestra compared to his earlier compositions.
The music is in three phases or acts. Act 1 is composed in A minor. The composer uses strings to introduce the bass theme. The scribe then recites the texts from the Egyptian pyramids. The first act has three scenes: the funeral of Amenhotep III, Akhnaten’s father, Akhnaten’s coronation, and the appearance of the widow.
The second act presents the next ten years in Akhetaten and Thebes. This act has four scenes: the temple, Nefertiti and Akhnaten, the City-Dance, and finally the Hymn. This is followed by the third act (Richardson 37). The act begins from year 17 to present. The act also has four scenes as follows: the family, the fall of the attacked city, the ruins, and finally the epilogue.
This composition by Philip Glass is widely recognized by many people because it tells a unique story while maintaining the unique structure of the 19th century orchestra compositions. The piece was produced in three Acts thereby making it unique that the earlier compositions by the same artist. The ability to follow the conventional attributes of orchestra is a great achievement by Philip Glass. It is acceptable that the opera is easily accessible to the unaware listener. This made the composition better that most of Philip’s predecessors.
The composition also underlines and follows the dramatic analysis presented by the intended story (Richardson 65). The other strength of the music is that it uses effective melodic and harmonic combination of language. This varies throughout the composition and changes frequently than in his earlier compositions. This music is acknowledgeable is a classical composition because it presents a romantic and more theatrical quality.
Conclusion
Philip Glass is a great composer who has helped conserve the unique nature of classical music. Many people believe that Glass is one of the influential musicians of the 20th century. This is because he has been prolific and at the same time, he is entertaining many people across the world. As a child, Glass wanted to become a musician, but of a different kind. He realized that most of the music compositions were not entertaining.
His mission was to bring something new to the people. He decided to pursue something different thereby establishing himself as a great classic musician and composer. Among his works, Akhnaten is a unique composition that tells a story while maintaining the elements of the 19th century orchestra. The composition is a conventional opera that follows the unique elements of orchestra music. Philip Glass will remain an influential composer and musician of the modern era.
Works Cited
Hoffer, Charles. Music Listening Today. New York: Schirmer, 2006. Print.
Knowlson, James. Damned to Fame: The Life of Samuel Beckett. New York: Grove Press, 2004. Print.
Potter, Keith. Music in the Twentieth Century. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Print.
Richardson, John. Singing Archaeology: Philip Glass’s “Akhnaten”. New York: Wesleyan University Press, 1999. Print.