Itaipu

Itaipu (1989) is something of a cantata-cum-symphony-cum-oratorio with no clear text. Its topic is the world's largest hydroelectric dam, built on the Rarana River between Paraguay and Brazil, and the piece--in Glass's trademark punctuating minimalism--is filled with distinct South American instrumentation, particularly in the percussion. The music itself is noble, conjuring the human endeavor to build the five-mile-wide dam near the town of Itaipu. The Canyon (1988) is about no canyon in particular but tonally suggests the mystery of canyons in general. Both these compositions are among Glass's better works. --Paul Cook Amazon.com

See, Glass can write choral works too!

There are those who might scoff at Philip Glass trying to combine
Orffs' "Carmina Burana", Mahlers' "Resurrection" symphony, and
Elgars' "Dream of Gerontius", but Robert Shaw, the Atlanta Symphony and
Chorus show that yes, Glass can do it, and moreover, make it his own
in the process! The percussion battery is exploited to the fullest in
both "Itaipu" and "Canyon", but there is some interesting spotlighting
of other instruments concurrent with that. Although the text in "Itaipu"
is somewhat nontraditional and murky, the chorus shows no fear whatsoever
and really give it their all. Glass proves that great choral works are
not just for those who say "O Fortuna", "Urlicht", or "Jesu, Maria-I am
near to death." March 28, 2008

Glass Soundscape

As personified in particular by Philip Glass, the so-called style of "minimalism" in modern classical music is known for its repetitiveness, and as such it has often been misunderstood. But Glass has managed to parlay those disadvantages to his advantage by keeping things interesting, partly through film scores like KOYANNISQATSI and THE FOG OF WAR, and, in this case, with "Itaipu" and "The Canyon"

Both of the works here are sterling examples of Glass' soundscape pallet, with "Itaipu" being a choral work inspired by the building of a hydroelectric dam in Paraguay and sung in the Guarani Indian dialect of that region, and "The Canyon" being more of a symphonic tone poem representation of an imaginary canyon. Utilizing large orchestral and choral forces, Glass came up with some of his best work. And he fortunately found a champion in conductor Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (where Shaw was music director from 1967 to 1991) and the A.S.O. Chorus. Both works received their world premiere recordings here on this 1994 Sony recording, in which Shaw and his Atlanta orchestra proved themselves to be one of the great conductor/orchestral combines in classical music.

Given its similarity to motion picture music, minimalist music of the sort that Glass practices should not seem so unappreciable. It's definitely appreciable here. January 10, 2007

Philip Glass en grande

Realmente debe ser impresionante escuchar una obra como ésta en vivo. Pero si, como yo, no ha tenido esa oportunidad y cuenta con un buen sistema de sonido y sentado en una silla confortable puede cerrar los ojos podrá notar como la gradiosidad que deja reflejar esta obra músical de una obra aun mas impresionante como son las Cataratas de Itaipu.

El juego de la orquestra, el coro y ciertos instrumentos flokloricos de América Latina le dan una fuerza tremenda a la obra... Recomendada 100% para los amantes de la obra de este compositor o de la buena música en general. January 6, 2007

Itaipu - my first contact with Philip Glass

Even though I frequently listen to Classical Music, the term Philip Glass was rather new to my brain. I first knew the name discovering a certain (and notorious) knock-knock joke involving this figure bearing a pseudonym-like name.

When I later found out the strange, new composer's style is called "Minimalism", I thought that was a joke... it has to be a far cry from other large trends of the 20th century such as "Serialism" and Avant-Garde, I thought. Well, I was to be proven wrong; I began to really embrace Minimalism as a matter of fact, and my view on music would change forever (Heck, I even met Philip Glass in person. Got a picture with him too!).

Itaipu was the very first Philip Glass piece I heard. I listened to this piece on a radio while riding on an airplane. The certain intense drive and awesome quality in the music, despite being so... "Minimal"... really amazed me. The music really took me to the waterway, from the mountains, to the vast river, to the mighty dam, and finally into the open sea.

Ever since, I began listen to many other music by Philip Glass, as well as other Minimalist composers including Steve Reich and John Adams. Among my favorite Glass music now including Glassworks, Koyaanisqatsi, and Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists. May 27, 2006

Grandiose

A nice combination of flowing harmony and large orchestra and choirs. Swelling wawes, obsessive rythmes, thick chords and deceptive simplicity echoe the journey of the river to the Dam.

Glass is here combining post minimalist composition with wagnerian effects.

To possess along with Uakti, for a contrast. September 26, 2005

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