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Avant-garde does not precisely mean “unlistenable.” There’s plenty of music that’s listenable but still way “out there.” Glass’s music is maybe not consistentl
by phlakaton 6y ago
Avant-garde does not precisely mean “unlistenable.” There’s plenty of music that’s listenable but still way “out there.”
Glass’s music is maybe not consistently on the edge, but his avant-garde reputation comes from works like the “opera” Einstein On the Beach, which is a formidable listening and performing experience, even if it’s heavily diatonic and based on familiar major/minor modalities. It is a sui generis approach to musical structure and musical theater.
- natechols 6y agoEinstein On The Beach is definitely on the extreme end. On the other hand, Itaipu (my personal favorite) and many of his symphonies are about as close to mainstream as modern "classical music" usually gets.
- PaulDavisThe1st 6y agoBwahahahah. You think EotB is "on the extreme end". You've never heard "Music in Similar Motion", I assume?
- natechols 6y agoI'll add that to my playlist, but I'd argue that the difference between 12 minutes and 5 hours counts for a lot! (Although I guess maybe opera audiences are primed for sitting in place for that long? I just don't have the attention span for anything longer than Figaro.)
- PaulDavisThe1st 6y agoScratch that then. Try out "Music in 12 Parts", which is about 4 hours long :) Glass' early minimalism makes EotB seem almost conventional by comparison, at least to me.
- phlakaton 6y agoI agree with Glass in that I don't think minimalism is the best term for what Glass does. Call it postmodern, maybe.