In the course of an afternoon that stretched into the evening, he read. Given their track records you would expect something short of amazing. American composer philip glass is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the late 20th century. In 2007 philip glass created a song cycle containing about 20 of the poems from the book of longing and a recording of this is available from orange mountain music.
Oct 23, 2007 my night with leonard cohen and philip glass when i was asked to chair a preconcert discussion with cohen and glass at the barbican, i panicked. Both philip glass and leonard cohen are highly respected artists who without a doubt are somewhere at the top of the musical food chain. According to glass, leonard read him most of the draft. In 2007 philip glass created a song cycle containing about 20 of the poems from the book of longing and a recording of. Chicago sun times franz schubert, robert schuman and gustav mahler did it. Book of longing philip glass original concert work based on leonard cohen s first collection of poems in over 20 years. Recently nominated for an oscar for the score to the film notes on a scandal, glass will perform on keyboards with a sevenpiece instrumental ensemble. Book of longing is leonard cohens astonishing new collection of poems, the first since book of mercy was published nearly three decades ago leonard cohen made his name as a poet before he came to worldwide attention as a singer and songwriter. Gould center for humanistic studies, of which faggen is also the director. Leonard cohens book with philip glass music jacket.
He is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. Cherlin the current article is the second in a series of articles titled apprehension and longings by the author on classical music from the early twentieth century. On june 1, 2007, at the luminato festival in toronto, ontario, composer philip glass premiered his song cycle based on book of longing, which is here given a twocd recording. Part chambermusic concert, part theatrical cabaret and part art installation, the philip glassleonard cohen collaboration book of longing is a confusing work of considerable importance, and was met with appropriate warmth friday night at its world premiere. Book of longing, his new collection of poetry, was twenty years in the making and written in montreal, mumbai and during his retirement in mt baldy. Book of longing by philip glassleonard cohen on amazon. In future i may decide to read another of leonard cohen s poetry books but unfortunately this one didnt make a big impression on me. Book of longing philip glass and leonard cohen collaboration. But on the night, both men were gracious and poised. Book of longing digipak philip glass 801837004328 hpb. Philip glasss book of longing torontos luminato festival. Aug 02, 2007 in future i may decide to read another of leonard cohen s poetry books but unfortunately this one didnt make a big impression on me. Book of longing philip glass original concert work based on leonard cohens first collection of poems in over 20 years. In future i may decide to read another of leonard cohens poetry books but unfortunately this one didnt make a big impression on me.
Book of longing philip glass youtube leonard cohen d a sip of wine book of longing philip glass duration. Album description an eagerly awaited new work by philip glass based on the deeply personal and sometimes provocative poetry of leonard cohen, book of longing is a twodisc set of the complete song cycle written for ensemble, singers, spoken word and imagery. Out of that personal contact has come something else besides friendship. Setting poems, revisiting sonatas, plunking the marimba. The culmination of years of mutual admiration between two of the most celebrated musical artists of their generation, the piece features new music by philip glass that is inspired by cohen. Jul 16, 2007 the notion of philip glass and leonard cohen collaborating seems so natural that its strange that mr. Many of these poems were first published at the blackening pages of the leonard cohen files website. The poetry of leonard cohen s book of longing put to music composed by philip glass. Philip glass is arguably the foremost living composer. Leonard shared an early draft of his poetry book, book of longing.
A gem for both leonard cohen and philip glass admirers. The culmination of years of mutual admiration between two of the most celebrated musical artists of their generation, the piece features new music by philip glass that is inspired by cohen s collection of poems and his artwork of the same name. Listen to book of longing in full in the spotify app. Find recording details and track inforamtion for book of longing, song cycle philip glass on allmusic. The work, which premiered in june 2007 in toronto, is a piece for seven instruments and a vocal quartet, and contains recorded spoken word performances by cohen and imagery from his collection. Philip glass, leonard cohen team up in west coast premiere of. Book of longing 2007 a song cycle based on the poetry and artwork of leonard cohen. This unique collaboration of lyric and music creates a beautiful and poignant synthesis of the brilliance of both artists.
It is the culmination of years of mutual admiration between two of americas most celebrated and uncompromising. Song cycle based on the poetry and artwork of leonard cohen, in which he set 23 of the books poems to music. Composed by philip glass and based on the poetry of leonard cohen, book of longing is a song cycle composed for ensemble, singers, spoken word and imagery. Book of longing by philip glass 801837004328 cd barnes. Like 1986s songs from liquid days, which used texts by laurie anderson, david byrne, paul simon, and suzanne vega, or 1997s planctus, a song for natalie.
Song cycle based on the poetry and artwork of leonard cohen, in which he. A song cycle based on the poetry and artwork of leonard cohen. Recently nominated for an oscar for the score to the film notes on a scandal, glass will perform on keyboards with a sevenpiece instrumental ensemble, four vocalists and voiceover narration by cohen. First published in 2006 by mcclelland and stewart, book of longing contains 167 previously unpublished poems and drawings, mostly written at a zen monastery on mount baldy in california, where cohen lived from 1994 to 1999, and in india, which he visited regularly during. Philip glass at piano performing book of longing, new philip glass piece with words by leonard cohen performed at memorial auditorium at stanford university. My night with leonard cohen and philip glass music the. Book of longing a song cycle based on the poetry and artwork of leonard cohen 2007 95 music by philip glass philip glass leonard cohen catalog. My night with leonard cohen and philip glass when i was asked to chair a preconcert discussion with cohen and glass at the barbican, i panicked. Book of longing prologue book of longing is the first new poetry book by leonard cohen since 1984s book of mercy. Book of longing a song cycle based on the poetry and artwork of leonard cohen 2007 95 music by philip glass philip glassleonard cohen catalog.
Jun 01, 2007 find recording details and track inforamtion for book of longing, song cycle philip glass on allmusic. Book of longing by philip glassleonard cohen on amazon music. Cohen is present on the album speaking not singing some of his poems, and glass also has set some of them to music, with singing by a soprano dominique plaisant, a. Philip glass, leonard cohen team up in book of longing. The book touched on many of the themes he had explored throughout his writing career, including spirituality he had spent part of his time between books as a postulant at. Nov 30, 2006 check out book of longing by philip glass leonard cohen on amazon music. Philip glass and musicians michael riesman, music director and conductor leonard cohen, spoken text. The notion of philip glass and leonard cohen collaborating seems so natural that its strange that mr. The poetry and artwork of leonard cohen, left, is intertwined with the music of philip glass, right, in glasss book of longing, a work that takes its title from cohens book of. Glasss new book of longing brings them together for a fulllength work the first. October 3, 2007 philip glass, leonard cohen team up in west coast premiere of book of longing by cynthia haven.
Philip glass and leonard cohen book of longing music. In my mind the weakness of cohen is that his lyrics and poetry sometimes are just plain silly or pretentious while glass tends to be formulaic and repetitious. Like a fresh spiderweb billowing like a spinnaker across the open window and here he is the little master sailing by on a thread of. An eagerly awaited new work by philip glass based on the deeply personal and sometimes provocative poetry of leonard cohen, book of longing is a twodisc set of the complete song cycle written for ensemble, singers, spoken word and imagery. I dont rememberlighting this cigaretteand i dont rememberif im here aloneor waiting for someone. Leonard shared an early draft of his poetry book, book of longing, with philip in an afternoon conversation that stretched into evening. The rumour has been confirmed philip glass is using leonards voice in his composition. Orchestrating a collection of leonard cohens poetry, the twodisc release finds glass entwined in another of his popinspired compositions. First published in 2006 by mcclelland and stewart, book of longing contains 167 previously unpublished poems and. Signed by leonard cohen and philip glass on the title page. Book of longing by philip glass the leonard cohen files.
Cohen is present on the album speaking not singing some of his poems, and glass also has set some of them to music. Book of longing digipak by philip glass in may 2006, leonard cohen published his first collection of poetry in 22 years, book of longing, having previously used some of the material as songs on his most recent albums, ten new songs 2001 and dear heather 2004. Music by philip glass poems and artwork by leonard cohen. The language ranges from the exquisitely beautiful to the darkly obscene, from the romantically inspired to the ironically banal leonard cohen was born in montreal in alongside his records he has published further collections of poetry and two novels. In 2007, glass also worked alongside leonard cohen on an adaptation of cohen s poetry collection book of longing. In 2007, the american composer philip glass premiered his work book of longing. Book of longingphilip glass youtube leonard cohen d a sip of winebook of longingphilip glass duration.
Listen free to philip glass book of longing prologue i cant make the hills, book of longing. Philip glass, leonard cohen team up in west coast premiere. The book of longing by leonard cohen and philip glass. Philip glass the book of longing is another unexpected turn in his prolific discography. Apr 25, 2006 book of longing, leonard cohen book of longing is the first new poetry book by leonard cohen since 1984s book of mercy. An evening length by philip glass based on the poetry and images of leonard cohen, book of longing has been composed for ensemble, singers, spoken word and imagery.
Book of longing a work by philip glass based on the poetry and images of leonard cohen. Leonard and i first began talking about a poetry and music collaboration more than six years ago. Philip glass born january 31, 1937 is an american composer and pianist. Being a fan of leonard cohen and philip glass my expectations may have been unreasonably high but this album strikes me as the worst of both cohen and glass. Oct 10, 2007 philip glass at piano performing book of longing, new philip glass piece with words by leonard cohen performed at memorial auditorium at stanford university. Book of longing, leonard cohen book of longing is the first new poetry book by leonard cohen since 1984s book of mercy. The poetry of leonard cohens book of longing put to music composed by philip glass. First published in 2006 by mcclelland and stewart, book of longing contains 167 previously unpublished poems and drawings, mostly written at a zen monastery on mount baldy in california, where cohen lived from 1994 to 1999, and in india, which he visited regularly during the. The culmination of years of mutual admiration between two of the most celebrated musical artists of their generation, the piece features new music by glass inspired by cohens book. Nov 19, 2007 listen free to philip glass book of longing prologue i cant make the hills, book of longing. On book of longing both of their weaknesss are revealed very strongly. Check out book of longing by philip glassleonard cohen on amazon music. Glass describes himself as a composer of music with repetitive.
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