Today is American Composer Philip Glass' 87th Birthday!

Born in 1937 and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Philip Glass developed a passion for music from a young age, spending hours at his family's record store where he encountered a diverse collection, including Western classical and contemporary music.

Commencing musical studies at age six with the violin, he later picked up the flute at age eight through an accelerated program at the Peabody Conservatory, and by the age of 12, he delved into composition.

In 1952, Glass entered the University of Chicago as a piano student under Marcus Rasking, introducing him to the 12-tone music technique and earning his BA at 19. He continued his studies at the Juilliard School of Music in 1956. Completing his BA and MA in composition in 1961 under William Bergsma and Vincent Persichetti.

Glass received a Ford Foundation grant, which allowed him to spend two years in Pittsburgh composing for various ensembles. Later a Fulbright Scholarship led him to study harmony and counterpoint in Paris with Nadia Boulanger, alongside collaboration with sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar. Returning to New York in 1967, Glass juggled multiple jobs to support himself, eventually forming the Philip Glass Ensemble in 1971 and pioneering his own record label.

In the 1960s, Glass focused on the genre "minimalism," although he preferred the description "music with repetitive structures." Evolving in the mid-1970s, his compositions embraced harmony, melody, and chordal structures, expanding his expressive range.

He has composed more than thirty operas, fourteen symphonies, thirteen concertos, nine string quartets, and numerous soundtracks for films. Collaborating with diverse artists, he has premiered operas in leading houses worldwide, including Einstein on the Beach (1976), Satyagraha (1980), and Akhnaten (1983).

Beyond his musical endeavors, Glass engages in lectures, workshops, and solo performances globally, enjoying widespread appeal across various domains, including opera, concert halls, dance, film, and popular music — a testament to his unique and enduring influence.

ROBERT MCDUFFIE | PHILIP GLASS | AMERICAN FOUR SEASONS | AMERICAN YOUTH SYMPHONY | 2016