Philip Glass

Words Without Music

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We were honored to have one of the most influential composers of the 20th century on the John Adams program. Philip Glass is the first composer to win a wide, multi-generational audience not only in the opera house and the concert hall, but also in the dance world, in film and in popular music – …

We were honored to have one of the most influential composers of the 20th century on the John Adams program. Philip Glass is the first composer to win a wide, multi-generational audience not only in the opera house and the concert hall, but also in the dance world, in film and in popular music – simultaneously.

He is known as an ā€œAmerican minimalistā€, writing pulsating rhythms and repetitive, slowly changing harmonies with long, overarching tunes. Mr. Glass took the John Adams stage to talk about his memoir Words Without Music, a fascinating chronicle of a life spent pursuing the absolute freedom of musical expression.

Glass was joined by harpist Lavinia Meijer and pianist Feico Deutekom.

If you like our past program, take a look at our upcoming speakers.