Philip Glass

Avant-garde composer Philip Glass is internationally respected for his innovative minimalist orchestral music that is strongly influenced by both East Indian and rock music, and includes compositions utilizing traditional orchestral instruments and electronic music. Glass is also known for his modern-day operas, including Einstein on the Beach (1976). The son of Russian Jewish immigrants, he worked as a child in his father's record store and simultaneously studied at the Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore. Already an exceptional pianist, he began attending the University of Chicago at age 15. Glass also was a wrestler of note. Glass next studied composition at Julliard and then went to Paris to study under Nadine Boulanger on a Fullbright scholarship. He also became closely associated with sitarist Ravi Shankar who was a major influence on Glass' work. Glass has composed music for feature films and major documentaries such as North Star in the late '70s. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide