Customer Reviews

Philip Glass: The Photographer

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Glass was so imaginative to put himself into the mindset of the 19TH century, and to perceive how shocking the introduction of photography must have been. The incessant repetitions, and long slow builds, brilliantly tie together the atonalities, and the screeching "Dorothy's flying monkeys" vocalizations. The effect creates a multiplicity of layers of imagery. It can either be a very exciting work, or an annoying one. If you're working on a sculpture or painting, it's great background. If, at the moment, life is what's happening while you're busy doing other things, it won't be your cup of tea, that day. Such duality of responses is typical of extraordinary art.

The mid-80s are a mixed-bag for Glass. While one could get wonderful pieces such as "Glassworks" and "Akhenaten", there were also these marketing-department dogs such as "Songs From Liquid Days" and "Danceworks" that were more irritating than illuminating. And while this starts off with a toss-off bit of fluff ("A Gentleman's Honor"), it soon develops into the wonderful and dramatic workout that follows. 'Act III', the final longer work here, is amazing, in fact, as it possesses a sense of drama that one doesn't always encounter in Glass's music of this period (the 'Funeral' from "Akhenaten" is another example). This work is also helped by the presence here of Glass's ensemble, which he seems to have felt more comfortable with as a compositional force than the larger forces offered by orchestras, etc, during this time. It is, though, an expanded version of the Glass Ensemble, with added brass and winds, and when this all kicks in in the final part of the work, it's one of those 'hang onto your hat' moments! One to get, even with the flaw of the "A Gentleman's Honor" toss-offs.

At first I found "The Photographer" was somewhat weak as compared to other PhGlass scores; but then-several years later-I discovered I liked it enormously!
At times it's pleasant, well-timbred (repetitive) music, and at others it plays durably on the same kind of obsessional harsh notes as "Einstein"!
The piece was designed to accompany a 'mime show' about one (not so) famous photographer. Tracks 1 and 3 are somewhat weaker ('songs'); but #2 and 4 will make you go out of your mind-whether you like them or not!
The recording is spotless as usual with the usual Philip Glass team. The 4-page booklet gives an overview of the initial staged performance. There seems to have been music for the whole length of the 3 acts: why do we have here but a (so short) selection? I can't wait to have 2 hours of "Photographer"!!

If I had a dime for every time I've listened to this CD since it was released in late 1982, I would easily be a millionaire! Powerful, beautiful, intense, "hypnotic", catchy, on the edge, mind-blowing, spiritual, gothic, loud, fast, deep. I love this music so much it is difficult to write about it! This is the CD which started my Philip Glass fixation which is as strong as ever today. Simply amazing!

Glass has a number of CDs that are better known than this one, but The Photographer remains one of my favoriteds. It's funny, I just saw "The Hors" which has a Phil Glass score and there are great similarities between that score and this one he did almost twenty years ago. So I say don't go buy the new one but check this one out instead.

This music may seem strange, but once you get used to the sequences of melodies gradually changing over time, you will be fascinated. His best album is North Star, but this comes in a close second.

2 1/2

Aside from a few powerfully implemented moments, this project just doesn't stick for me. Working from typically beautiful elements, here there is a little too pretentious application of vocals, coupled with melody and time changes that feel comparatively less immersible, if building to the logically satisfying conclusion.

Philip Glass has changed classical music. It's all honest instruments, but it repeats with minor changes. He's a genius. This CD is probably one of his best. The music is fantastic and the melody haunts you. Remember on the first South Park Christmas special? ("As I look into the sun...the rays burn my eyes....happy, happy, happy...) His music is like that, but it's spectacular.