Saturday, January 10, 2009

Music: Hourglass


The Hours- Phillip Glass,composer; Branka Parlic, pianist


A harmonious pounding if there ever was one. My own simple definition of the musical instrument that has shaped my world since age 9. The piano has been an appendix to my body ever since. I cannot steer away from a black and white keyboard for long before I feel miserable and depleted of an essential energy akin to breathing. I was watching a video of The Hours by Phillip Glass (1937- ) on youtube today. The music created an interesting landscape in my mind. I remembered long lost conversations between me and a former significant other in a diner we use to frequent. The memory was a sad one but the music by Glass dignified the moment in a different way. I could see this episode of my life with certain detachment. Then it was not just a sad memory but a memory framed by the narrative music I was listening to. The music of Phillip Glass engages me. It surrounds me like literature and art. I can look at myself from the inside and the outside. In many occasions his music has had the reputation of being repetitious and hypnotic. But isn’t life both? How many times have I gone to the grocer’s where the same friendly cashiers greets me with a “Hi there, Sir how are you this morning?” or the endless times I had to wait for a red light to change into a green light. I could go on and on. When I am listening to Glass be it Songs from a Liquid Days, Koyaanisqatsi or Einstein on the Beach the word repetition becomes a rare petition, a petition on my part for sanity, for compassion, for at least trying to make a little sense of the chaos around me. Music always delivers answers to me.

6 comments:

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Beautiful music, I felt instantly at peace. Thanks for sharing your gentle presence.

Keri said...

I would be more likely to listen to Mary J. Blige, BUT it was truly beautiful. Thank you for expanding me!!

Janelle said...

soothing. i sent an email out a few years ago...anyone selling a piano? (and nearly added: in this little shit hole town?) everyone said, oh you'll have to go to nairobi. i said oh the universe will respond accordingly. and i bought a piano literally just up the road...an OLD piano which originally came from California. then lived on lake victoria for eons then came on a truck through the serengeti to arusha and now sits on ngorobobhill....oh what bliss to hear chords melting into each other, those sounds...bach fugues dancing (if somewhat shakily) from my fingers onto the honky tonky keys...bliss. xxx j

Tess Kincaid said...

I absolutely loved this music from The Hours, but knew nothing about it. It is so very haunting and beautiful.

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

Yes, Phillip Glass...he is one of the reasons I like those three movies so much. I can not hear music from Koyaanisqatsi without seeing those rolling clouds, those huge earth movers. I recently flew to California and was disappointed not to see those clouds over the Rocky Mountains as I have seen before.

Teri and the cats of Furrydance

Cherie/ Butterfly Dreamer said...

I enjoyed this piece very much. I love the piano, and the cello , my own personal favorites.