Einstein on the Beach (1976)
Philip Glass
and
Robert Wilson
Knee 1
Act I
Sc 1A
Train
Act I
Sc 2A
Trial (Bed)
Knee 2
Act II
Sc 3A
Field
(Space Machine)
Act II
Sc 1B
Train
Knee 3
Act III
Sc 2B
Trial
(Bed/Prison)
Act III
Sc 3B
Field
(SpaceMachine)
Knee 4
Act IV
Sc 1C
Building
Act IV
Sc 2C
Bed
Act IV
Sc 3C
Space
Machine
(Interior)
Knee 5
Additive process
A musical grouping or measure of, say, five notes is repeated several times, then is followed by a measure of six notes (also repeated), then seven, then eight, and so on.
from first Trial scene
Rhythmic cycles
Two repeating fixed rhythmic patterns of specific different lengths
From opening of first Train scene
Ways of combining harmonic
progressions with rhythmic structure
Glass. Another Look at Harmony.
Repeated harmonic progression
Train One (closing section)
Spaceship in Act IV
Knee Plays 3, 4, and 5
Main harmonic progression
Chord sequence, length of one chord increased
Trial One
Act IV, Bed scene
Second major theme of work
All five Knee Plays
Opens and Closes opera
More lyrical form in third, fourth, and fifth Knee Plays in chorus or violin
Use of “root-movement harmony”
Creates impression of moving through as well as with the chord progression
Harmonic movement was central to perception of expressiveness in earlier music
Makes sharp break with his previous harmonically static music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urpf17NzYpc 50 minutes on making of 1984 production
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMb2f_-m7iM 8 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urpf17NzYpchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urpf17NzYpchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMb2f_-m7iMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMb2f_-m7iMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMb2f_-m7iMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMb2f_-m7iM