What's On Past Events: 2016 / 2017

Celebrate the 80th birthday of minimalist founder Philip Glass with an all-Toronto version of one of his most popular works.

In Music in Fifths (1969), Philip Glass’s ideas are at their most basic, using only addition and subtraction of notes in simple scales to create epic and hypnotic musical forms. The piece is in “closed form” – a predetermined structure that ends when the accumulation of repetitions fill it out completely. Glass has always considered Music in Fifths a sort of teasing homage to [legendary pedagogue Nadia] Boulanger; it is written entirely in parallel fifths, a cardinal sin in the traditional counterpoint his teacher so carefully instructed.

This early work will be performed by Canada’s premiere percussion ensemble TorQ Percussion Quartet. It will also be paired with a brand new piece collectively improvised by TorQ in homage to Glass’s music.

“TorQ was outstanding.  No, make that astonishing.”
– Ottawa Citizen

Repertoire:

Without a Map is commissioned through the generosity of Roger Moore

Read an interview from Interview magazine, where Bryce Dessner speaks to Glass about his work.

Here’s another podcast/interview with NPR about Glass’ legacy.

Find out more about TorQ Percussion Quartet here.