 |  | The Majesty of Powaqqatsi |  |
I'll admit straight out that I haven't seen the third film in the "Qatsi" series nor have I heard much of its accompanying music, which features the exceptional Yo-Yo Ma. Regardless, I could still say that the score for "Powaqqatsi" easily tops the other two for no other reason than the emotional depth which "Powaqqatsi" explores. There is triumph in the music, there is celebration, there is majesty, but underneath these moments of great achievement lies something foreboding, ominous, and insatiable. The opening "Serra Pelada" is a dancing, parading embellishment straight through the heart of Brazil; the interspersed "Anthems" serve as reminders of toil and accomplishment; and the closing of "Mr Suso" and "From Egypt" are not only calls to prayer but calls to personal reflection before Glass recycles the "Anthem" motif one last time.
This is an amazing work which feels and listens like anything other than a film score. Glass has written many film scores since "Powaqqatsi," including the spectacular "The Hours" and "The Illusionist," but nothing sounds nearly so seamless nor so original as this. You don't even have to see the film to enjoy the music or understand its relevancy and meaning. I admire nearly all of Philip Glass' repetoire, yet "Powaqqatsi" remains for me one of his quintessential pieces, toppling even such classics like "Glassworks," "Music in Twelve Parts," and even the wonderful "Koyaanisqatsi" score.
April 25, 2008Philip Glass gets a bad rap as a one-trick pony and this album is one of the best pieces of evidence that he isn't. True, this record sometimes employs Glass's strong minimalist roots and the familiar ascending/descending melodic lines repeated over and over again like some sort of avant-garde military marching band that are his staple. But most of it is very different, and these sections are usually short and shift rapidly, unlike the epic, 20-minute builds of "Koyaanisqatsi." At times it is ambient, at other times rousing and spirited. "The Anthem" (part two of which was used to great effect in "The Truman Show" along with selections from Glass's similar "Anima Mundi" score) manages to be both, and is powerfully symbolic of what "Powaqqatsi" ("life in transformation," if I recall the loosely translated definition of the word) is about. While this record runs a little long, it's brilliantly creative New Age classical and works both with the movie and on its own.
August 15, 2005Powaqqatsi is my favorite of the the three qatsi films (although I haven't seen all of the last one in the trilogy).
This is also my favorite piece of music of the movies, and the best word I can think to describe is "glorious".
Philip Glass has created something enormous here. He plays with 2 or 3 themes and repeats them over and over again in different ways, yet the music never becomes dull. Listening to it on CD, it sounds even better than what I remember from the movie ...
August 3, 2005I was afraid of minimalist music at one time. In a nutshell, if you are looking to minimalist music, this is a safe way to start. While this wasn't my first minimalist CD, it is by far my favorite. Because it is a soundtrack, no song goes very long and each track is slightly different allowing you to be choosey with what tracks you want to listen to. Yet, this is still minimalist. For those of you who like intelligent composition, the reoccurring themes develop great intrigue in changing meters, different orchestration, and the use of rhythm to develop melody the trade mark of minimalist music. Everyone will like the beautiful native South American melodies intertwined into those of the Indian, African, and Chinese themes. This album is one of three in the "Qatsi trilogy", and while the others have their moments this is by far the best.
March 14, 2004I frankly admit that I dont know anything about 20th Century serious composers-I mainly listen to jazz-but this album is astonishing. I have to admit that some of Glass' other works,like "The Photographer," don't excite me very much. But the music on this CD is wonderful.On the strength of this album and the other soundtracks for this trilogy I've been carefully buying other Glass CDs. If some customer stumbles on to this album and is intimidated or turned off by Glass' reputation as a "serious" composer,let me assure them that this is an album that almost anyone can sit down and listen to and enjoy. Don't let his reputation as a "classical" composer who works with orchestras prevent you from grabbing this incredible CD. You don't have to be a highbrow to listen to this
February 20, 2004More reviews at Amazon.com ...
