Philip Glass - Part 10 of Music in Twelve Parts

As one of the most remarkable composers in the late 20th century of America, Philip Glass’s “Music in Twelve Parts” is affiliated with the term minimalism, which places a great emphasis on the repetition of sounds and harmonies. In the late 1960s, the transcendent minimalism movement emerged in order to publicize a novel music philosophy, and “Music in Twelve Parts” is one of the most notable and overwhelming compositions. As a matter of fact, the whole piece lasts about four hours, which should be considered a daunting challenge and even exhausting for newcomers, especially with the twelve sections being pretty independent and attempting to deliver different ideas. 

When I first listened to the tenth section, I found the manifold overlap of rhythm manipulated by instruments particularly intriguing. Even though the repetition of sounds stood in a dominant position, the gradual variation of musical patterns was more likely to be a highlight through this part. I kept anticipating how the musical structures, especially the allegro feature would develop next. In comparison with another minimal composition, Reich’s “It’s Gonna Rain,” this piece by Philip Glass was comparatively more entertaining and lively in terms of the rhythm and beats of instruments. At the beginning of this part, the pace was moving and changing quite rapidly, which like a train steaming forward built up a vehement and somewhat extreme atmosphere. 

Afterwards, the alternation of the rhythm occurred and from my perspective, this change made the piece no longer thin from the hearing, but to one that was much more substantial and overwhelming. The senses are immediately grabbed during this piece, eliminating any distractions one may even thought of having. The strong vibrations of the musical patterns were quite noticeable, and subsequently, the entire part sounded more vivid than solo repetition. Therefore, rather than finding it mind-numbing, I instead felt inspired. The fleet rhythm and layer sounds pattern both endowed me with a huge imaginative space in my mind, and I always stayed focused on its change. Needless to say, “Music in Twelve Parts” is a brilliant piece, which listeners need patience and insight to comprehend and enjoy but provides an unparalleled experience when enjoyed.