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Philip Glass – Part 10 of Music in Twelve Parts

 

Considered one of the most significant and influential albums of the minimalist style in American avant-garde music, “Music in Twelve Parts” by Philip Glass includes a piece called “Part 10”, which can lead to a listening experience that requires a good bit of energy to keep oneself focused on the work itself. As an example of minimalist music, it has a consistent rhythm and melody throughout the seventeen minutes of length. Bearing in mind that the melody consists of various instruments being played simultaneously, it is quite fascinating that Glass kept it into that monotone flow.

The recurring patterns of different instruments got me exhausted the whole time as if I was listening to a piece of music on my computer and, at some part, my computer bugged, looping only one second of that piece. I felt annoyed and amazed simultaneously because I cannot deny that “Part 10” by Philip Glass is a minimalistic piece; on the other hand, I would assume something minimalistic to lead to a plain and straightforward experience. Therefore, it evoked feelings of uneasiness and confusion in me.

In short, my confusion with the seventeen minutes of experiencing this piece demonstrates that it is, for me, an unconventional work of art playing with my nerves. I, on the other hand, consider myself successful in even completing it without any interruptions or stoppages. Various musical elements contributing to a monotone melody bring a difficult path to come up with; however, Philip Glass created a whole album expressing his approach to the avant-garde music of his era, which made him one of the most influential figures of the American avant-garde music.

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