[Pictured above: Philip Glass; Photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe 1976.]
The European première of a collaboration between Philip Glass and Leonard Cohen, Book of Longing features a new score composed by Glass, set to Cohen’s powerful words, and accompanied by artwork and imagery created by Cohen himself.
Theatrical, atmospheric and intimate, this production is performed by an eclectic seven-piece group of musicians, featuring Glass on keyboards, and utilises a mixture of live voices and a pre-recorded Leonard Cohen vocal.
Book of Longing is poignant yet passionate, playful yet profound, and one of the highlights of the achievement of two of the world’s most uncompromising, celebrated and influential musical visionaries.
Free pre-performance talk with PHILIP GLASS 6.30pm 18 October – please book place in advance.
Leonard Cohen's new book of poetry, Book of Longing, has been published in Canada in April 2006 by McClelland & Stewart, and in the United States by Ecco (HarperCollins) in May 2006. UK & Commonwealth edition was published by Viking Penguin in October 2006.
Leonard Cohen - Book of Longing
Cohen has also published new drawing ("Asleep at Last")
Dear Students of ATRiuM:
My colleague Dr. Paul Carr has written to inform me of wonderful but limited opportunity for our ATRiuM students.
[Pictured above: Dr. Paul Carr, Principal Lecturer in Popular Music / ATRiuM]
Dr. Carr writes:
"Dear Colleagues, The Millennium centre have been in touch regarding offering our students discounted tickets for the forthcoming European premiere of Philip Glass’ Book of Longing’ concert. Students can gain access to the concert for £7.50 as opposed to the normal price range of £15 - £45."
"Philip Glass is also offering a free pre concert talk before the 2nd concert at 6.30, which our students are eligible for providing it is booked at the time of purchasing the ticket."
"I would really appreciate if you would pass this on to students during lectures and tutorials, as I am attempting negotiate similar deals for future concerts. "
"Tickets can be obtained in person or over the phone, and students simply need to verify that they are purchasing the “Philip Glass Student Deal” – or something similar. "
"Tickets have to be booked in advance as places are limited, and I have around 40 leaflets which outline the detail of the concerts (which are on the 17th and 18th of this month). I will keep them on my desk, so please feel free to come and pick some up."
Dr Paul Carr, Room CA409
Cardiff School of Cultural & Creative Industries
Atrium Cardiff CF24 2XF
Dr Paul Carr Web Blog: http://musing.weblog.glam.ac.uk/
Dr Paul Carr My Space site: http://www.myspace.com/paulcarrgroup
Philip Glass Ensemble perform Rubric, NYC, 1986BOOK OF LONGING
Conceived and Composed by Philip Glass
Based on the poetry of Leonard Cohen
A new work by Philip Glass based on the poetry of Leonard Cohen, Book of Longing has been conceived as an evening-length concert work composed for ensemble, singers, spoken word and imagery.
[Pictured above: Composer Philip Glass]
The culmination of years of mutual admiration between two of the most celebrated musical artists of their generation, the piece will feature new music by Glass inspired by Cohen's most recently published book of the same name.
Comprised of Cohen's poetry and sketches created over the course of the past 20 years including eight years spent at the Mt. Baldy Buddhist monastery, Book of Longing is signature Leonard Cohen-- at once meditative, playful, erotic, and provocative.
The poems are a diverse collection that can loosely be collected into the categories of long "ballads," love poems, autobiographical works, spiritual meditations written at Mt. Baldy, and short comic pieces that Philip Glass has nicknamed "limericks."
Philip Glass has conceived the concert as a collection of poetry from each of these loose categories that will run as a continuous evening rather than a traditional song cycle.
The music is currently being written for an ensemble of seven musicians including electronic keyboard (one played by Glass himself), flute/bass clarinet, hand percussion, violin, cello, upright bass, and oboe/English horn that will be visible on stage throughout the evening.
The music will be directed by Glass's longtime musical director Michael Riesman.
Four singers (Soprano, Mezzo, Tenor and Baritone) will sing lyrics pulled from Cohen's poetry as a quartet and in a variety of combinations throughout the evening and will be staged and likely visible for the majority of the evening.
The visual artwork of Leonard Cohen has never before been seen in conjuction with his music and they will be incorporated into this work. Exact means of their incorporation is still to be determined.
Philip Glass has chosen to work with choreographer/director Susan Marshall, with whom he created the opera Les Enfants Terribles, to stage the musicians and singers.
Set by Christine Jones, Lighting by Scott Zielinksi, and costumes by Kasia Walicka Maimone.
For further study:
Four Musical Minimalists: La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, Philip Glass (Music in the Twentieth Century): La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, ... Glass (Music in the Twentieth Century) (Paperback)
by Keith Potter
The American composers la Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich and Philip Glass are widely regarded as pioneers of the aesthetic and the techniques of minimalism in musical composition during the 1960s and early 1970s.
This book offers the most detailed account so far of their early works, putting extensive discussion of the music into a biographical perspective.
The true musical minimalism of these years is placed in the wider context of their music as a whole, and considered within the cultural conditions of the period which saw not only the rise of minimalism in the fine arts but also crucial changes in the theory and practice of musical composition in the Western cultivated tradition.
To Apply Quickly Contact: Dr. Mark Woods, Senior Welfare Tutor
ATRiuM / CCI Ty Pont Haearn at mwoods[at]glam.ac.uk
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Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries
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© 2007 Mark Leslie WoodsSmart & Sexy? Your Queer Advantage is waiting!
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