the famed composer

Philip Glass, the famed American composer, is celebrating his 80th birthday in style with a special concert series. The man who has worked with the likes of David Bowie has transformed the composing landscape throughout his career. and is hailed as one of the most iconic and experimental composers of the time.

Born in Baltimore it was clear that Glass had a natural-born talent for music, studying at the prestigious Juilliard School Glass grew tired of what passed as modern music at the time. Setting off to Europe and then India, Glass returned to New York with his own ensemble. The Philip Glass Ensemble comprised of seven musicians playing keyboards and woodwind instruments that were all fed through a mixer.

A minimalist?

Philip Glass' music was dubbed as a minimalist, a term that the man himself is not entirely in agreement with, that saw the composer write 20 Operas, ten symphonies, two piano concertos and concertos for violin, piano, timpani, and saxophone quartet and orchestra as well as various soundtracks to films, all in 25 years!

With no sign of the composer slowing down, it looks like we can celebrate many more years to come with Philip Glass.