Einstein on the Beach (1976)

Philip Glass

and

Robert Wilson

Knee 1

Act I

Sc 1A

Train

Act I

Sc 2A

Trial (Bed)

Knee 2

Act II

Sc 3A

Field

(Space Machine)

Act II

Sc 1B

Train

Knee 3

Act III

Sc 2B

Trial

(Bed/Prison)

Act III

Sc 3B

Field

(SpaceMachine)

Knee 4

Act IV

Sc 1C

Building

Act IV

Sc 2C

Bed

Act IV

Sc 3C

Space

Machine

(Interior)

Knee 5

Additive process

A musical grouping or measure of, say, five notes is repeated several times, then is followed by a measure of six notes (also repeated), then seven, then eight, and so on.

from first Trial scene

Rhythmic cycles

Two repeating fixed rhythmic patterns of specific different lengths

From opening of first Train scene

Ways of combining harmonic

progressions with rhythmic structure

Glass. Another Look at Harmony.

Repeated harmonic progression

Train One (closing section)

Spaceship in Act IV

Knee Plays 3, 4, and 5

Main harmonic progression

Chord sequence, length of one chord increased

Trial One

Act IV, Bed scene

Second major theme of work

All five Knee Plays

Opens and Closes opera

More lyrical form in third, fourth, and fifth Knee Plays in chorus or violin

Use of “root-movement harmony”

Creates impression of moving through as well as with the chord progression

Harmonic movement was central to perception of expressiveness in earlier music

Makes sharp break with his previous harmonically static music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urpf17NzYpc 50 minutes on making of 1984 production

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMb2f_-m7iM 8 minutes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urpf17NzYpchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urpf17NzYpchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMb2f_-m7iMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMb2f_-m7iMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMb2f_-m7iMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMb2f_-m7iM