Album

Philip Glass is an acquired taste. Particularly in some of his earliest works, Glass stripped his compositions down to such a minimal level that it's hard for casual listeners to appreciate. One of the pieces on this album, for instance, Music for Voices, is definitely not for the squeamish. Composed in 1970 and recorded live at the Paula Cooper Gallery in 1972 (accounting for the somewhat hissy sound) Music for Voices is exactly that: eight a cappella voices chanting solfa in repeated patterns, slowly varying the dynamics and rhythms. In the right frame of mind, this hypnotic humming can be affecting and mesmerizing. It can also be incredibly annoying. Dedicated fans of the composer's earliest works will be fascinated by this raw piece. The second composition on the CD, however, holds a broader appeal while still retaining a "stripped-down" approach. Another Look at Harmony, Pt. 4 features the much more familiar setting of chorus against electric organ (played, as usual, by longtime Glass collaborator Michael Riesman), recorded in 1989 with a resultant cleaner and more immediate sound. Similar in feel to Glass' early operas and parts of his landmark score for the film Koyaanisqatsi, Another Look at Harmony, Pt. 4 finds Glass moving beyond his Music in Twelve Parts to further explore his approach to harmony. The result is a transcendent piece worthy of dedicated listening time. This second piece makes the CD worth investigating for Glass fans.

© Neil Shurley, All Music Guide

CD 1
Philip Glass Composer Music for Voices Work Recorded 1972 Pamela Fitzgerald Voices, Ruth Maleczech Voices, Jeff Bingham Voices, William Zukof Countertenor, Western Wind Voices, Michael Riesman Organ, Albert De Ruiter Bass, JoAnne Akalatis Voices, Tom Cathcart Voices, Johanna Arnold Soprano, Mabou Mines Voices, William Lyon Lee Saxophone (Tenor), Dawn Grey Voices, Mary Ann Hart Mezzo-Soprano, Elliot Levine Baritone, David Warrilow Voices, Lawrence Bennet Tenor
1	Music for Voices	13:33			Album Only
Philip Glass Composer Another Look at Harmony Part 4, for chorus and electric organ Work Recorded 1989 Tom Cathcart Voices, William Lyon Lee Saxophone (Tenor), Ruth Maleczech Voices, Michael Riesman Organ, Lawrence Bennet Tenor, Johanna Arnold Soprano, Western Wind Voices, Western Wind Vocal Ensemble Ensemble, William Zukof Countertenor, Jeff Bingham Voices, Mary Ann Hart Mezzo-Soprano, Dawn Grey Voices, Pamela Fitzgerald Voices, JoAnne Akalatis Voices, Mabou Mines Voices, Albert De Ruiter Bass, David Warrilow Voices, Elliot Levine Baritone
2	Another Look at Harmony Part 4, for chorus and electric organ	50:12			Album Only