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Philip Glass - “Einstein on the Beach“

 

Philip Glass’ composition “Einstein on the Beach“ from the year 1976 is a nonstandard opera; the 19 minutes-long composition does not contain any plot, only sound patterns. I really liked Glass’s composition due to its controversial, groundbreaking character. Opera is known as a musical, dramatic work in one or several acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists. Unlike standard opera music, Glass varies from the standard and creates his own interpretation of opera. To put it in other words, Glass’ “Einstein on the Beach“ is absolutely controversial and new and does not have anything to do with the standard opera. It seems as if Glass aims to criticize at standard, traditional opera. Unlike standard opera music, “Einstein on the Beach“ does not have a story; uncommonly, it does not have a traditional narrative thread or libretto, but rather mainly consists of columns of figures and solmisatiosn syllables (do-re-mi) as text.[1]

The composition appears to me as long stretched and repetitive but in a good sense. “Einstein on the Beach“ sounds to me like a perfect soundtrack to the movie “The Nutcracker“ and reminds me of the old Disney movies. Glass has contrasted his composition from the little rhythm cells, expanding incredibly fast. Hence, a hypnotic effect is produced with constant altering repetition. This style is known as “Minimal Music“, for which Glass is well-known.

Furthermore, I appreciate the composition’s title “Einstein on the Beach“. Apparently, the well-known physician and scientist Albert Einstein does not have anything to do with the composition itself. In an interview Glass mentions that “they were not interested in the »content« of the person, they just wanted a name well-known enough to arouse people's interest.“[2] Amusingly, Glass and Wilson consider to name the composition after Charlie Chaplin, Adolf Hitler or Gandhi too, but they agreed on Einstein.

Overall, I liked Philip Glass’s composition very much. The general irony in every part of it beginning with the title, the non-traditional type of opera music, and the missing common story seems to demonstrate an individual interpretation of opera, which is from my point of view the cloud of music. Music sounds different to each individual, hence each person has a different interpretation of it. Glass emphasized this individuality in his composition, which is the reason why I really enjoyed getting to know him and consider this experience as very enriching.

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