compositions

Symphony No. 4 “Heroes”

1996

44′

Music by Philip Glass from the music of David Bowie and Brian Eno.

CAST:
2.pic.2.2.bcl.2 /3.3.2.btrb.1/ 3 perc (SD, TD, DB, tamb, cyms, tgl, vibes, tam-t, cast, glsp)/ hp/ pf.cel/ str

COMMISSION:
Commissioned by Twyla Tharp Dance Company

PREMIERE:
Premiered as a dance work by Twyla Tharp (to a recording) in September 1996

World Concert premiere by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, conducted by Martn Brabbins on May 15th 1997 as part of the Crouch End Festival in North London.

Continental European premiere by the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dennis Russell Davies June 5th 1997.

NOTES:
Heroes, like the Low Symphony of several years ayo, is based on the work of Bowie and Eno. In a series of innovative recordings made in the late 70’s, David and Brian combined influences from world music, experimental avant-garde, and rock and roll and thereby redefined the future of popular music.

The continuing influence of these works has secured their stature as part of the new “classics” of our time. Just as composers of the past have turned to music of their time to fashion new works, the work of Bowie and Eno became an inspiration and point of departure of symphonies of my own.

— Philip Glass

PUBLISHER:
Dunvagen Music Publishers