Philip Glass's involvement in contemporary music led not only to his own style, but also to his own ensemble. During the seventies, this Philip Glass Ensemble was probably the only group that could actually play all those oh-so-simple sounding chord breaks. The 'non plus ultra' of this type of minimalism became Music in Twelve Parts: a four-hour work in twelve sections, which can also be played
… separately (or even in alternative sequences). Because all in all it is quite a bite for both audience and musicians. Yet almost every performance of Music in Twelve Parts ends with a standing ovation. And the musicians of the ensemble have also learned to take the marathon easier. 'I use an' easy 'keyboard, meaning an organ / synthesizer action rather than weighted keys, and very little pressure is required to trigger a note ', says Michael Riesman. (HJ)more
