Philip Glass : Orion [IMPORT]

Philip Glass; Philip Glass Ensemble; various artists (Artist), Philip Glass (Composer), Michael Riesman (Conductor), Philip Glass Ensemble (Orchestra), Ashley MacIsaac, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Gaurav Mazumdar, Foday Musa Suso, Uakti Mark Atkins Wu Man (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Wu Man, Ashley MacIsaac, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Gaurav Mazumdar, Foday Musa Suso, Uakti Mark Atkins
• Orchestra: Philip Glass Ensemble
• Conductor: Michael Riesman
• Composer: Philip Glass
• Audio CD (April 1, 2005)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Orange Mountain Music
• ASIN: B0009B835O
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,244 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Orion was commissioned for the 2004 Athens Cultural Olympiad. Composer Philip Glass's desire was to create a "truly multi-cultural, international music work." Those familiar with Glass's music will have an idea about what to expect---minimalist motifs repeated over and over, subtly changing both rhythmically and harmonically. But this 90-minute work devotes each of its nine sections to a particular nation: one each to Brazil, Canada, Australia, India, China, The Gambia, and Greece and three in combination. Glass uses instruments indigenous to each country, giving the work a terrific array of colors and flavors. The dark gruntings of the didgeridoo are made even more effective when contrasted with the dainty Chinese pipa, a sort-of cross between the lute and mandolin; the sounds of Nova Scotian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac are sharp edged and folksy; and there is a duet for high wind instrument and sitar. The finale is a Greek song with all the instrumentalists chiming in. "Orion" seems somewhat formless---it's not a concerto or symphony---but its series of movements have great beauty and tonal diversity and keep the ear fascinated. Highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Product Description
Orion is a live recording of the ninety-minute work commissioned by Arts, Dance, and Music Productions which premiered in Athens on June 3, 2004 (with The Philip Glass Ensemble) as part of the Cultural Olympiad in Greece. The recording features Eleftheria Arvanitaki vocalist, Mark Atkins on didjerido, Wu Man on pipa, Gaurav Mazumdar performing a sitar work by Ravi Shakar, Ashley MacIsaac on fiddle, Foday Musa Suso on kora, and the Brazilian ensemble Uakti. The American Premiere on June 21, 2005, will be held at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite good, August 12, 2005

By	Joseph Geni (Evanston, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Philip Glass is Philip Glass, and no matter how many different global styles and instruments he incorporates into its work, you've still got the regular rhythmic patterns, ascending and descending melodic lines, and minimalist development. Glass fans won't be raving about this work for its originality, but rather because it's just GOOD. From Uakti's homemade percussion instruments to Chinese pipa to Grecian vocals to Australian didjeridoo, "Orion" is blessed with a variety of timbres and styles that keep it from becoming horribly repetitive, as it otherwise might have been. It helps to have seen a live performance of it (not that this is easy-the American premier was only a couple months ago) and to watch the interactions of the musicians and their instruments, but as a purely auditory experience this is a solid work with some remarkable soloists. I do recommend.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Concert I Have Ever Seen, November 16, 2005

By	R. Hillman "begga_bug" (Melbourne, Australia/ New York, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What do a Celtic fiddler with bleached hair in combat boots and a kilt, an old Aborigine with a didgerido in a ratty t-shirt, and an entire backing ensemble dressed completely in white have to do with each other? Absolutely nothing? You're right! But that is what makes "Orion" so amazing.

I saw Orion at the Melbourne International Arts Festival while studying there and it was, by far, the best act I saw the entire festival. The entire cast is nearly 20 people and while one may not think that all these different instruments could possibly function together, let alone make music--Glass shows you that they can and do. The personalitites of each of the instrumentalists comes streaming out while they play amid and with each other.

This concert was, by far, the most musically intensive and yet flawless concert I have ever seen. When I heard the CD afterwards, I was shocked to find that they really do sound on the CD like they do in real-life (a noble and dying art, it is sad to say).

Overall, this was the best CD I have ever bought. I recommend it to anyone who likes classical--and any other type of music. The fundamental parts blend seamlessly with the character of the entire group in a whirlwind experience that can only be described as "Orion."

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars New Orion album A Mix of World Styles, July 22, 2005

By	C. Bridge "Bridge Photographer" (North Palm Beach) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While some of the new music on this new "Around the World"
album is "Glassy", much of it is not, and I found some of the
departures away from the Glass style to be a bit of a foray.
While the return of the Uakti group from his previous album
was a plus in the Brazilian track; I found the Chinese and "Irish Jig" sounding sections in the Canadian section to be annoying. The Ghambian section was melodic and interesting,
but the Dhidjeridou intro was overdone and not effective. The
Greek Vocalist ending album was listenable but "Yanni-esque"