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Phillip Glass - Music in Similar Motion

from Between the Keys by Ensemble Offspring

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Music in Similar Motion is one of Philip Glass’ early minimalist works. Written in 1969 for the Philip Glass Ensemble, these early works tend to be far more austere than the expressive language he is noted for today. The title Music in Similar Motion describes exactly what happens in the piece: musical lines always move in the same melodic direction although not always in parallel intervals. The melodies are constructed as cells that are repeated ad lib until one of the musicians gives a small cue to move onto the next cell.
The constant repetitive and static nature of the harmony, colour, dynamics and tempo draws the listeners’ attention to what does change in the work: rhythm. Glass’ approach to rhythmic processes stemmed from an interest in Indian music. Instead of rhythms that emerge out of regular patterns of repeating accents, such as are found in European-derived classical and popular music, Glass builds his piece from short rhythmic units which are added to each other, as he says, “in western music we divide time, as you slice a loaf of bread. Indian music takes small units, or ‘beats’ and strings them together to make up larger time values.”
The diatonic palette and harmonic stasis make the work ideal for just-intonation interpretation. The most distinctive difference between this version and equal tempered versions is that the characteristic minor third that begins most of the melodic cells is significantly flattened (to a 7:6 interval) to provide an exotic but resonant quality. The absence of a pedal to dampen the notes of the centaur vibraphone contributes to resonance of a more reverberant kind creating a dizzying and glowing hypnotic mass. (DR)

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from Between the Keys, released January 1, 2013

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Ensemble Offspring Sydney, Australia

Ensemble Offspring are Australia’s leading new music group. Uniting the country’s most fearless instrumentalists under the leadership of internationally acclaimed percussionist Claire Edwardes, they subvert classical music traditions and deliver concerts that "burst with imagination, energy and inspiration” (Seesaw Magazine). ... more

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