All tracks on this cd are great but just wait ’till you hear ” Brazil” . fantastic!!
Rating: 5 / 5

This two-discs set brings you all over the world. It gives you a taste of different cultures and also the feeling that we all are the same, on the small grain os sand that Earth is, as it appears from the sky.
Rating: 5 / 5

For many, the music of Philip Glass is an acquired taste. It often takes one awhile to get the hang of the subtle variations within virtually endless repetitions of what…in comparison to more well known classical music…seems to be a few limited themes. But if one sticks with it long enough, one will begin to discover the emotional alchemy at work in these pieces. That’s when the genius of it is revealed. The trick, of course, is to stick with it long enough.

“Orion” is Glass’ exploration and extrapolation of musical phrases that are more or less based upon traditional music of the places he names (e.g. India). Repetition is downplayed in this work and it surges playfully forward from movement to movement, thanks in part to shorter “bridge pieces” that link the longer thematic ones.

If one has wondered about Glass’ music, “Orion” is a splendid entry point…perhaps followed by “Passages” (with Ravi Shankar). The only decision that remains is which format to purchase.

As an unabashed audiophile, I normally purchase CDs (or SACDs when available). For a variety of reasons, I purchased the MP3 download of “Orion”. It was RIPed with a variable bit rate algorithm and seems to tach out between 192 and 256 KBPS with a few spurts to 320 KBPS. As such, it exhibits minimally competent fidelity compared to a middle-of-the-road CD. On the other hand, it was delivered instantly and sounds good enough that I continue to listen to it through isolation headphones while working. If I was going to listen to it critically, I would re-order “Orion” in CD format.

Bottom line: in any format, this is good stuff and an excellent way to become acquainted with the work of this important living composer.
Rating: 5 / 5