Philip Glass - “Einstein on the Beach TrainSpaceship”(1983)

Being another composer who creates a different type of music with repetitive elements called minimalism, Philip Glass also composed twenty-five operas that are recognizable among audiences. His work such as “Einstein on the Beach TrainSpaceship”(1983) is another masterpiece of minimalism where Glass himself is playing the piano together with the orchestra, thus creating the music that is exceptional. 

However, the video starts with Philip Glass playing the piano, and what I find impressive is the fact that the position of his hands does not move, he repeats the same notes while at the same time he is enchanted by the music he creates together with the other musicians. Not only does he use the same rhythm and notes, but also the other instruments are included as well, the movements of their fingers are identical which all at once make a piece of art. The vocalists play a great role in the performance as they also repeat the same sounds, it is like some kind of situation is constantly repeating in his head that means a lot to Glass, for his reaction as well as an expression when the specific sound is produced are mysterious and puzzling. The effect they produce is either harmonic or intensive, meaning at some moments it’s calmful, but on the other hand, the force of energy they produce makes me expect something significant will happen at that moment.

It is a curious feeling how music can be so simple, yet complex enough to be an art itself. The simplicity of their motion and the way they perform it like it is just an ordinary day wakes up the tranquility in me, on the other side, the link between the instrument itself and the power of the music shifting is timeless and certainly complex enough to experience the performance in the proper way. Philip Glass’ reputation as one of the greatest living composers is well deserved since he created a piece of work that is completely undiminished.