aworks :: "new" american classical music

The Fog of War (2003). Philip Glass /library talk/

I think I'd be a lot more motivated if they played the Philip Glass soundtrack to the Fog of War in the library while I did work...Heck, I might even Brylcreem my hair down into a natty centrepart, just like Mr Robert McNamara, to give the whole thing authenticity. Quick Little Splinter

The Fog of War (2003). Philip Glass /intrusive/

Not everyone liked the soundtrack to The Fog of War, for example, Verbatim:

I also forgot to mention that I found the Philip Glass music intrusive, particulary the overbearing violins.

Looking at an old aworks post, I see that Sufjan Stevens didn't either.

The Fog of War (2003). Philip Glass /screening/

Philip Glass hosts a screening of the film The Fog of War as part of the Imagine Festival of Arts, Issues, and Ideas in New York:

This is a benefit event for Clear Path International (www.cpi.org). Clear Path works to rehabilitate present day landmine and bomb accident survivors in Vietnam's former DMZ.

Philip Glass:

I don't belong to any party. But with issues of privacy and liberty and free speech it doesn't matter what party you belong to: These things must be protected.

Prior The Fog of War post.

The Fog of War (2003). Philip Glass

Philip Glass wrote the soundtrack for the new movie, The Fog of War.   In it, Errol Morris interviews Robert McNamara about his experiences during World War II, as a Ford executive, and as the Secretary of Defense during the Viet Nam war. 

The music has considerable variety for a documentary and was divided into many, not necessarily related, sections.  Timbre was particularly varied, with use of flute, percussion etc. over string accompaniment.  Some of the music is reminiscent of Koyaanisqatsi, where anonymous people in public spaces are shown to fast-paced music.

Some of the Viet Nam-related segments had an atmospheric, non-rhythmic, even psychedelic feel.  In the closing credits, John Kusiak was also credited with providing music, presumably these parts.  The film also incluced a segment of an old CBS Reports television program (was that Morley Safer?) that used Copland's Appalachian Spring as the theme.

All in all, the music, on first listen, sounds both reminiscent of Glass but also more sophisticated, at least in color.  The cinematography and well-chosen historical film clips were memorable.  Separated from the film, the soundtrack may turn out to lack coherency but with it, "Philip Glass Meets the History Channel" was compelling. 

Amazon has sample streams as well as MP3 downloads.

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Sufjan Stevens, a pop musician who released an album touting the merits of the state of Michigan hates soundtracks, including this one.