Composer Philip Glass to bring 'The Complete Piano Etudes' to Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Composer Philip Glass and four pianists will bring to life the 30-year evolution of Glass's compositional voice on Feb. 20 in a performance of "The Complete Piano Etudes" at Purdue University's Loeb Playhouse.

This 7 p.m. performance is presented by Purdue Convocations with Friends support from Lee and Rona Schwarz.

Ticket holders are invited to attend a preshow discussion at 6 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 279, with pianist and composer Judd Danby. He will discuss Glass's compositional approaches and "The Complete Piano Etudes."

Glass continually investigates ways to forge a new musical vocabulary that integrates the melodic, rhythmic and harmonic in original ways. In 1994, after resolving to become a better pianist, Glass conceived his études as a set of 20 solo-piano works to hone his skills and explore textures, tempi and techniques. His lyrical creations elevate far above mere practice exercises. They span a stylistic spectrum from gentle relaxation to aggressive urgency and back again, as if tracing the emotional arc of human life as seen through his relationship to his instrument.

Inspired by the format of the presentation of "The Complete Piano Etudes" at the 2014 Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, this concert will feature Glass and four other pianists taking turns playing. Joining him will be Glass interpreter Maki Namekawa; jazz prodigy Aaron Diehl; composer Timo Andres; and Lisa Kaplan, founding pianist of the three-time Grammy-winning contemporary music ensemble Eighth Blackbird.

This Convocations engagement is the second major component of the dedicatory recitals with the new Steinway concert grand piano, as well as Glass's third visit to Purdue following his appearances with the Philip Glass Ensemble in 1984 and "1,000 Airplanes on the Roof" in 1989.

Tickets are $45-75 for adults and $35-75 for those 18 years and younger, Purdue students and Ivy Tech Lafayette students. Tickets are available at the Stewart Center box office at 765-494-3933 or 800-914-SHOW. Group tickets are also available to groups of 10 more. Call 765-496-1977 for more details or visit https://purdue.edu/convocations/group-sales/

Initiated in 1902, Purdue Convocations was one of the first professional performing arts presenters in the United States. Each year, Convocations offers the region 30-40 performances of widely varying genres. Purdue Convocations aims to promote frequent exposure to and familiarity with human cultural expression in a multitude of forms and media. 

Source: Abby Eddy, Purdue Convocations director of marketing, 765-494-9712, aeeddy@purdue.edu 

Note to Journalists: Publication-quality photos are available at http://www.convocations.org/press.