Composer

:

Philip Glass

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1986

Average_duration

:

40:48

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

'Songs from Liquid Days' is a song cycle composed by Philip Glass, which premiered on March 15, 1986. The cycle consists of six movements, each featuring a different vocalist and lyrics by various poets. The cycle was commissioned by CBS Records and was a commercial success, reaching number 74 on the Billboard 200 chart. The first movement, "Changing Opinion," features lyrics by Paul Simon and vocals by Bernard Fowler. The song is characterized by its repetitive, pulsing rhythm and Glass's signature use of arpeggios in the piano accompaniment. The second movement, "Lightning," features lyrics by Glass's frequent collaborator, David Byrne, and vocals by the Kronos Quartet. The movement is characterized by its driving, syncopated rhythm and the use of dissonant harmonies in the string quartet. The third movement, "Freezing," features lyrics by Suzanne Vega and vocals by Linda Ronstadt. The movement is characterized by its slow, mournful melody and the use of Glass's trademark repetitive patterns in the piano accompaniment. The fourth movement, "Liquid Days," features lyrics by Byrne and vocals by the Roches. The movement is characterized by its upbeat, pop-influenced melody and the use of layered vocal harmonies. The fifth movement, "Open the Kingdom," features lyrics by Glass and vocals by Lucinda Childs. The movement is characterized by its ethereal, otherworldly quality, with Childs's vocals floating above Glass's sparse piano accompaniment. The final movement, "Forgetting," features lyrics by Glass and vocals by Douglas Perry. The movement is characterized by its haunting melody and the use of Glass's signature repetitive patterns in the piano accompaniment. Overall, 'Songs from Liquid Days' is a prime example of Glass's minimalist style, with its repetitive patterns and pulsing rhythms. However, the cycle also showcases Glass's versatility as a composer, with each movement featuring a different vocalist and a unique musical character.

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