20th century and todayPhilip Glass
Philip Glass was born in the United States.
Philip Glass’s life
The big moments of this life, and what was happening in the world at the same time.
A life at a glance
- 1937👶 Birth
Born in Baltimore on 31 January; his father runs a record shop
- 1948🌍 Meanwhile
The long-playing record (LP) goes on sale
- 1952📚 Trainingage 15
Enters the University of Chicago at 15 (mathematics, philosophy)
- 1964🌍 Meanwhile
Robert Moog presents his synthesizer
- 1965🧳 Journeyage 28
Works with Ravi Shankar: discovers Indian rhythms
- 1968🎩 Careerage 31
Founds the Philip Glass Ensemble; also works as a plumber and taxi driver
- 1969🌍 Meanwhile
First steps on the Moon
- 1976🎼 Workage 39
Einstein on the Beach, a nearly five-hour opera with Robert Wilson
- 1980🎼 Workage 43
Satyagraha, opera about Gandhi
- 1982🎼 Workage 45
Glassworks; score for the film Koyaanisqatsi
- 1982🌍 Meanwhile
The compact disc (CD) is launched
Listen to the music
Press the big button to listen. Close your eyes: how does it make you feel?
Philip Glass’s music is still recent: it belongs to its creators and their families. Ask a grown-up to play it for you on the radio or at a concert!
Once upon a time…
Philip Glass was born in the United States. His dad had a record shop. When a record didn’t sell, he listened to it at home with his son to find out why: that’s how Philip discovered lots of music!
He went to Paris to study with the great teacher Nadia Boulanger. There he met an Indian musician, Ravi Shankar, and discovered music made of repeating cycles.
He invented music in which little patterns go round and change very gently, like a kaleidoscope. For a long time, to earn a living, he was also a plumber and a taxi driver!
His opera Einstein on the Beach lasts almost five hours, and the audience can go out and come back whenever they like. He has also written the music for many films.
Philip Glass’s instruments
Tap an instrument to hear it!
Cards to flip
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