String Quartet No. 3 “Mishima” | Philip Glass

Apollo Chamber Players presents String Quartet No. 3 "Mishima" by American composer Philip Glass. Performance as part of ‘Houston Melharmony’ season concert program, October 7, 2017 Zilkha Hall, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston (TX).

String Quartet No. 3 “Mishima” (1985)..............................Philip Glass (b.1937)

I.1957-Award Montage
II. November 25-Ichigaya
III. 1934-Grandmother and Kimitake
IV.1962-BodyBuilding
V.BloodOath
VI.Mishima/Closing

APOLLO CHAMBER PLAYERS
Matthew J. Detrick, violin I | Anabel Ramirez Detrick, violin II | Whitney Bullock, viola | Matthew Dudzik, cello

Videography: Ben Doyle, Runaway Productions
Audio: Ryan Edwards and Shannon Smith, Coincident Sound

Program note:
Although Philip Glass is one of the most influential composers of our time, his music is often controversially described as “minimalist,” a term that turns off many would-be audience members. Glass himself is wary of genre, and his prolific output runs the gamut from silence to opera and symphony. Born in Baltimore, the composer’s early musical influences came in the form of unsold records from his father’s store – Hindemith, Schoenberg, and other modern composers. He studied at Peabody, the University of Chicago, Juilliard, and Aspen, after which he moved to France to work with the legendary Nadia Boulanger. He often draws on modern technology and its accompanying din, Indian and eastern music and philosophy, and the visual arts for musical material. His serendipitous meeting and collaborations with Indian music legend Ravi Shankar influenced Glass’ compositional aesthetic profoundly and eternally.

With origins in the New York City avant-garde scene of lofts and galleries, Glass has since had a meteoric rise, composing numerous symphonies (10), operas (27), and feature-length film scores (53). From this vantage point, it is significant that one of his most popular and omnipresent works (in numerous advertisements) is his music for the film Mishima.
The process of making the score to String Quartet No. 3 Mishima was an unorthodox one. Kevin Jackson notes: “Glass began by composing a complete independent score, consulting drafts of the script but not seeing any of the rushes, and then handed it over to the director. Schrader played around with this primary score, extending or shortening some parts, repeating others, and cut the film to these musical extracts. Glass was then presented with this edited version, which he could recompose, taking into account the film’s narrative needs.”

[pierrebonnechere]

Once you are in, you cannot get out of it

[JamesCorbett-dx]

Wow. You played this with more emotion than Glass quartets are ever played! Beautiful, seamless and thank you x

[jeffwatkins]

Wonderfully played. One of Glass' most lyrical and the ensemble gives it exactly the right touch.

[KevinD]

Philip Glass is the great innovator. Here he adds a 'cougher' to the traditional string quartet format.

[FunForAllification]

Bravo! I’ll never understand why I remain so enthralled with talented musicians. It’s a language I long for.

[adrianwright]

I.1957-Award Montage 0:12 II. November 25-Ichigaya 4:48
III. 1934-Grandmother and Kimitake 6:05 IV.1962-BodyBuilding 9:30
V.BloodOath 11:19 VI.Mishima/Closing 14:53

[Phraxster]

Such a beautiful performance. Thank you for sharing.

[DanFromHR]

This is the slowest Ive ever heard part IV...I didn't love it at first, but it got me and you played it so beautifully

[LAURENT]

Classique et terriblement moderne . Oui, un grand bravo ! J'adore ...

[famousamos]

I am in love with this. It is so beautiful, so modern, yet so timeless.

[jacquesgeorges]

Très beau et émouvant, s’agissant de l’hommage d’un Américain à un Japonais patriote. Philip Glass est le plus grand compositeur vivant.

[GavinRamonShow]

Hard for me not to swear cos this is so wonderful. Philip Glass is and will always be my hero. This is brilliant work guys so thank you for your rendition. LOVE X

[cesarsandino]

VI.Mishima/Closing is so so beautiful.

[mariahapy]

If someone needs this:

I.1957-Award Montage
[0':12'' - 4':37'']
II. November 25-Ichigaya
[4':48'' - 6':04'']
III. 1934-Grandmother and Kimitake
[6':05'' - 9':07'']
IV.1962-BodyBuilding
[9':30'' - 11':18'']
V.BloodOath
[11':19'' - 14':37'']
VI.Mishima/Closing [14':53'' - 18':29'']

:)

[nw]

Thanks It is really good to see you play at the same time than listening to the music. :)

[aliciarochap]

14:53 essa música é linda simplesmente encantadora, fico imaginando o fim do mundo ao som dela, quero tocar no meu casamento

[JEANVIPERE]

Quel bonheur... C'est merveilleux.

[ZeacorZeppelin]

It was interesting seeing which instruments took each part.

[adevomusic]

Glass captured the essence of Yukio Mishima in this music. So beautiful and bold. Props to Schrader as well. Mishima's life was such an important example for us, he was a hero.

[Khalfan_Kapablanca]

EL ULTIMO TEMA ES TOTALMENTE SUBLIME, SE ME HA ERIZADO LA PIEL, SON GENIALES