glass notes
Watchmen – Music from the Motion Picture

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Reprise Records is releasing two soundtrack records for the film THE WATCHMEN.  One disc is the score by Tyler Bates, and the other disc "Music from the Motion Picture – The Watchmen" contains a track of Philip Glass' Pruitt Igoe and Prophecies together (sic). 
Release date is today, March 3rd. Check it out. I hope a lot of people get introduced to Philip Glass' music this way. Lord knows, more people will see the Watchmen in its first week than have seen Koyaanisqatsi all time. 
If someone downloads or buys this album, please let me know how the two tracks are mixed together.

The Watchmen at iTunes
and
at Amazon

8 thoughts on “Watchmen – Music from the Motion Picture”

  1. I did. It begins with Prophecies. I think that at 2.01 there’s a mix to make the beginning shorter. At 3.32 there’s crossfade of 3 seconds or so to Pruit Igoe. That mix is not very good but I wouldn’t say it’s a bad one.
    Then it goes back to Prophecies at 5.29. That’s a quick crossfade and that one is a bit better I think.
    At 8.01, there’s a quick crossfade to make the ending shorter. As someone who knows that piece very well you can easily tell that there’s a mix there.

  2. According to Cinemusic.com the film Watchmen also includes excerpts from “Protest, Act II Scene 3” from Satyagraha and “Something She Has to Do” from The Hours.

  3. It is very frustrating and hypocritical of Philip Glass to complain that no one plays his music when he withholds the sheet music from those of us who would like to play it for ourselves and others. He and Michael Riesman have produced a wealth of beautiful music for piano and only released a few crumbs to the public. The music book for Hours does not even include the song, “Kiss” yet Riesman plays in on his piano transcription of Hours CD.
    Riesman produce another CD of Glass’ soundtracks but again no sheet music is available to the public. I guess that when he dies, his music will die with him. What a shame and a slap in the face of those of us who try to share his music with others and in doing so expose them to their/his music. Why bother?

  4. Geez Cliff,
    Its not at all what your describing. The reason why other composers music is more readily available it because they sign everything over to a big publishing house, then get pennies in return for performances of their music. In the cases you cite, Philip Glass holds onto the rights for his music that if people want to hear it, they have to pay him to come and play it. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with that. This is not big time pop music where the money rolls in by the millions. This is how, in a very direct way, Philip Glass makes his money. I cant understand anyone taking exception to that. If you want to hear the latest Bruce Springsteen song, you have to pay to go see Springsteen sing it.
    Once enough time goes by, or interest in a piecewanes, it becomes available. The Music from the Hours you also mentioned was published almost in toto in Riesmans piano arrangement, and again, Riesmans recent transcriptions of Dracula and Glass Soundtracks, were created by painstaking care and hours of work, to create piano repertoire that if people want to hear in concert, they have to hire Riesman. And why do you presume that Riesman hasnt approached actual printers of sheet music asking them to publish what hes done. You dont know that. While its true that Glass owns the majority of his publishing, its often true that with his work on film he doesnt. That is the case with The Hours (Warner), Dracula (Universal), and many of the selections on Riesmans Soundtracks album (Neverwas, The Illusionist, Notes on a Scandal, and many more). This is all to say that Glass doesnt control the availability of that music. Again, Riesmans work in compiling the work was of great effort creatively, and administratively.
    You seem to be way off base by saying its hypocritical. The crime is the standard business as usual arrangement with big publishing houses exploiting artists.
    You should trust that whenever possible or practical, Philip Glass has a long history of bringing his music intelligently to the widest public possible, that includes performers.

  5. I hope no one will object to me posting on this board but I was wondering if anyone could help with an enquirey I am making about a piece by Mr Glass.
    I am a dance teacher at a college in the UK and have being researching Jenipapo: No 14 in a transcription by Mr Riesman for one of my classes, as this piece appears on this years A Level Dance group choreography paper. What I was wondering was if anyone knows whether a sheet score of the piece exists and where, if it does I could obtain it from? Having the score often makes explaining the music to the students so much easier then just using the recording and often gives them a depth of understanding of a piece they would not otherwise have.
    I would be very grateful for any help anyone was able to give in this matter.
    Yours sincerely
    David Slade
    Dance Tutor
    Seevic College, UK

  6. Does anyone know if the soundtrack to the film ‘Rebirth’ is going to be released? The music I have heard on the trailer sounds classic Glass.
    Many Thanks,
    Rob

  7. I too would love to know if there is any chance of getting hold of the sheet music as i am planning on doing the music question for my A-level dance (as mentioned above)
    Any idea where it would be available from?
    Thanks

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