North Star [IMPORT] [SOUNDTRACK]

Philip Glass (Composer), Dickie Landry (Performer), Philip Glass (Performer), Gene Rickard (Performer), Joan La Barbara (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Dickie Landry, Philip Glass, Gene Rickard, Joan La Barbara
• Composer: Philip Glass
• Audio CD (May 5, 1995)
• SPARS Code: AAD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Soundtrack
• Label: EMI Gold Imports
• ASIN: B0000070I4
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #125,055 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
M usic for people who get sculpture (you know who you are). This music was originally conceived for a film on sculptor Mark Di Suvero, and later remixed and released as North Star. As one of Philip Glass’ early works, the album helped introduce his idiosyncratic style to listeners (although I bought it based on the post-Einstein buzz). EMI. 2003. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites, March 11, 2005

By	Christopher K. Koenigsberg (Norman, OK USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This has long been one of my most favorite Glass albums.
I got to see the film once, after I'd already heard the album.
I used to play tracks from this album, live on a college radio station where I was a DJ, like every week, through the 1970's.

Now I miss the rough crude abruptness, of the cheesy Farfisa organ sound, in this recording, also the severity and original clarity (AKA "minimalism") of the compositions, when I listen to much later Glass.

Probably that is a very subjective personal thing. If I had heard the late recordings first, I might prefer them.

But since this was one of my original introductions to the music of Philip Glass, it remains one of my top favorites.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Glass, January 17, 2005

By	roland (Idaho) - See all my reviews

This music is classic Philip Glass minimalism, and is comparable to Einstein on the Beach and Koyaanisqatsi in terms of the sound and style of the compositions. These songs are not as long as those on these other albums, which makes this album short and sweet and may be a good introduction to his work from this period to someone checking out Philip Glasses music from this period for the first time. It should be noted that these songs are very, very minimal - so for those who like Glass but not the older minimalism stuff, you may consider it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine early Glass in small doses, March 30, 2000

By	DAC Crowell (Rankin, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This is actually a soundtrack album, for a documentary film on sculptor Mark diSuvero and his work. Glass created short pieces for this, in a rather atypical style for the period in which this was composed and recorded (the mid-70s), since during this time Glass was mainly concerning himself with massively expansive forms in "Music in Twelve Parts" and the Robert Wilson collaboration "Einstein on the Beach". Atypical or not, though, it's one of the few recordings of his small ensemble sound of the period (winds, electric organs, voices, etc) and as such, pretty important. And the works do have a certain charm to them...but it should be noted that this isn't exactly what the composer was up to at the time, and the lack of expansiveness seems to cause the pieces to suffer a bit, as one doesn't get the 'Glass feel' from such abbreviated workouts. Check the longer pieces first, but do come back for this one...if you can find it!