recordings
Powaqqatsi
1988
Music by Philip Glass
For the film by Godfrey Reggio
Michael Riesman, conductor

Catalog

Nonesuch 79192-2

Tracks

1. Serra Pelada 5:02
2. The Title 0:23
3. Anthem-Part 1 6:22
4. That Place 4:41
5. Anthem-Part 2 3:48
6. Mosque and Temple 4:42
7. Anthem-Part 3 8:11
8. Train to Sao Paulo 3:04
9. Video Dream 2:14
10. New Cities in Ancient Lands, China 2:47
11. New Cities in Ancient Lands, Africa 2:56
12. New Cities in Ancient Lands, India 4:42
13. The Unutterable 7:02
14. CAUGHT! 7:20
15. Mr. Suso #1 1:08
16. From Egypt 3:23
17. Mr. Suso #2 with Reflection 1:18
18. Powaqqatsi 4:35

Notes

Po.waq.qa.tsi (from the Hopi language, powaq sorcerer + qatsi life) n., an entity; a way of life, that consumes the life forces of other beings in order to further its own life.

Philip Glass is simply amazing. He has created a musical language that is at once complex, possessed of pure simplicity. In being willing to journey into the vivid unknown, his composition reveals a sensitivity that is capable of touching those that can hear. His acoustic universe allows the listener the opportunity to deeply feel the vibration of sound performed; in cinema, remarkably, the audience can see the music. His music can speak directly with the soul in an utterance of repetition that is always changing. His ever-ascending circular sphere of sound is transporting, portending a direct, mainline transmission of extraordinary emotive power. Needless-to-say, I am a Glass junkie, addicted to this metamorphic high.”

— Godfrey Reggio

Credits

Original Music Composed by Philip Glass for the film by Godfrey Reggio.
Soundtrack Produced by Kurt Munkacsi for Euphorbia Productions, Ltd.
Conducted by Michael Riesman.

Kora, Balafon, Dousongoni, Nyanyer, Kari Nyan: Foday Musa Suso. Vocal solo: Shaikh Fathy Mady.
Bass voice: Al DeRuiter.
Percussion ensemble: Joe Passaro, Sue Evans, Roger Squitero, Valerie Naranjo.

Hispanic Young People’s Chorus/Coro Juvenil Hispano.
Executive Director: Hector Carrasquillo.
Musical Director: Angélica Rosa Sepúlveda.
Lyrics for children’s choir: Bernardo Palumbo.

Violin: Sergiu Schwartz, Sanford Allen, Elliott Rosoff, Karen Karlsrud, Richard Sortomme, Linda Quan, Carol Pool.
Viola: Jill Jaffe, Karl Bargen, Lois Martin, Jack Rosenberg.
Cello: Seymour Barab.

Double Bass: Barbara Wilson.
Flute/Piccolo: Michael Parloff, Jack Kripl, Diva Goodfriend-Koven.
Quena ensemble: Jorge Joven, Miguel Grande, Jefe Ronda.
Clarinet: John Moses, Steve Hartman, Laura Flax.

Saxophones: Jack Kripl, Jon Gibson, Steve Elson. Bassoon: Lauren Goldstein, Ethan Bauch, Mike Finn. Didjerido: Jon Gibson. Trumpet: Wilmer Wise, Lorraine Cohen, Bill Rhodin, Neil Balm. French Horn: Sharon Moe, Joe Anderer, Ann Yarbrough, Tony Miranda, Alan Spanger. Trombone: James Pugh, Keith Oquinn, Alan Raph. Tuba: Alan Raph. Keyboards: Michael Riesman, Jeffrey Rona, Martin Goldray, Paul Rice, Lee Curreri. Tanpura: Frank Menusan.

Contracting and administration: Dan Dryden. Technical adviser and consultant for African music: Foday Musa Suso. Technical adviser and consultant for South American music: Bernardo Palumbo. Coordination for children’s chorus: Taller Latinoamericano.

Music recorded and mixed at The Living Room, New York City. Sound effects rerecorded at Sprocket Systems, San Rafael, CA. Digital editing — New York Digital. Digital tape machines supplied by Sid Zimet at Audioforce, NYC. Mastering — Bill Kipper, Masterdisk, NYC. Megamix supplied by Musically Intelligent Devices.

Design: Pentagram. Recording Engineer/Associate Music Producer: Don Christensen. Assistant Engineer: Miles Green. Ambient sound effects and additional recording: Bob Bielecki and Connie Kieltyka. Synthesizer programming & sound design: Jeffrey Rona. Sound effects design: Gary Summers. Production Supervisor for Euphorbia Productions: Rory Johnston.

Music published by Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc. (ASCAP). © 1988 Nonesuch Records.

Buy

Related

COMPOSITIONS:
Powaqqatsi

RECORDINGS:
Koyaanisqatsi on Nonesuch
Naqoyqatsi on Sony Classical
Philip on Film on Nonesuch

FILMS:
Powaqqatsi by Godfrey Reggio
Naqoyqatsi by Godfrey Redgio
Koyaanisqatsi by Godfrey Reggio

BOOKS:
Film Music Screencraft by Mark Russell