Philip Glass

Glass's music features relentless rhythmic repetition, slowly shifting harmonic patterns, and motoric energy that creates trance-like states. His trademark arpeggiated figures repeat with slight variations, building through gradual process rather than conventional development. He favors clear tonal centers and simple harmonic progressions, but the repetition and transformation of patterns create complexity through accumulation. His music is both mesmerizing and machine-like.

Studied with Nadia Boulanger and discovered Indian classical music through Ravi Shankar, which transformed his approach to rhythm and repetition. He was influenced by minimalist colleagues Reich and Riley while developing his own more tonal, theatrical approach. His music influenced Brian Eno, ambient music, post-rock, and countless film composers. He shaped contemporary music's relationship to repetition and groove.

Early works were rigorously minimalist and experimental, performed in lofts and galleries. 'Einstein on the Beach' (1976) brought fame and controversy. The 1980s-90s saw him embrace film scoring, symphonies, and increasingly Romantic textures while maintaining his repetitive core. Recent works show continued productivity and growing harmonic richness, though his style remains recognizable. He's never stopped evolving within his minimalist foundation.

When 'Einstein on the Beach' premiered at the Met in 1976, it was five hours long with no intermission, no plot, and repetitive music that alienated traditionalists. The production lost money, but it changed opera history—suddenly minimalism was on the world's biggest stages, and Glass became classical music's most controversial and successful avant-gardist.

Glass drove a New York taxi and worked as a plumber into his forties while developing his style—he was a mature, fully-formed artist before achieving success, giving him independence from commercial and critical pressures that might have compromised his vision.

Glass is one of the most-performed living composers worldwide, with his music appearing on everything from chamber recitals to major opera productions. His film scores bring new audiences to concert halls. 'Einstein on the Beach' receives regular revivals. He's absolutely evergreen and still highly productive, representing accessible contemporary music that actually fills seats.