Book of Longing

after Leonard Cohen, composed by Philip Glass, Austin, TX, February 22, 2009

Nice. Really liked it, especially it is one of the ‘easy listening’ pieces Philip Glass has done. It was very comforting to hear and recognize several of his very typical fortissimos in some songs and poems. And a nice story to follow with the little handout.

The performance started somewhat slow, and people kept to themselves. Then, at some point a better know, faster passage ignited some frenetic (frantic?) applause. From that on, everything was too late, or better, too early. After every song, the last tone not subsided, clapping started.

For me, Glass pieces need some silence before and after, be it only a few seconds, to ground them, to base them, to value them. What a pity that everyone seems in a rush, seemed to either barely control their enthusiasm or ignorance.

I liked the poems, the spoken text and the drawings, even though they were clearly made by a generation not living on the net but rather grown up in an analog world. The pictures held a big charm and were authentic to the time the poems recall.

A very nice evening, the tickets a wonderful gift to my birthday. Glass is wonderful.


Book of Longing with support from Cohen (at least the site states this. A webring, who knew they are still around!)
Book of Longing, Wikipedia.com
Book of Longing, Glass website
Book of Longing, Google Books