I think Glass is a kind of easy-listening mock-classical. That may be why he is so popular, you don't have to think to get him. Actual COMPOSERS like Milhaud, Ginastera, Malipiero, Luening, Chavez, Tower, Stravinsky require you to work a little. This particular CD isn't so bad, it's good background while I vacuum

I saw him play 1-4 live & from memory. It was one of the most spiritual events I ever experienced. These pieces will melt in your heart. If you ever get a chance to see Glass live especially with just a piano unaccompanied.... it will change your life.

I would like to recommend my favorite, etude # 8, to all. I am overtaken with beauty displaying without reserve on all levels, coloring the mind and convincing the heart that nothing more worthy or elevating, exists.

When we have counted out 100 years we will remember Philip Glass. It is the Etudes that will carry the beauty, sorrow and sweet serious sound across generations and its measure will always be other profound deeply felt musical variations on a theme, Bach's Cello Concertos for example. The Etudes are like a force of nature, they have weight and purpose they remind me that at bottom - life is not a joke.

Glass is the god of a piano playing and writing that is full of emotions that few other pianists are aware of.

I am a huge fan of Uakti. As soon as I heard I heard Etude No. 2, I realized something interesting. It is the same song as Amazon River off the album Aguas da Amazonia. Upon listening closely I realized that almost all the songs off this album are the same as the songs from Aguas da Amazonia. Just different titles. No surprise though considering he wrote both.

Philip Glass is easily the most overated composer of modern classical music and/or minimalism, and this "song cycle" is the epitome of his mediocrity. He uses the same chord progressed arpeggios in every single one of his compositions. There is no difference between these piano selections and his violin concerto. Somehow he is able to reinvent this crap and keep it going for over an hour. Sure this is good background music but it will never be good enough to fill up a concert hall. So bravo Mr. Glass, for making the worlds most pitiful, repitious, excuse for music that I have ever heard since Paris Hilton's CD.

this album is terrific. the composition is so passionate you cry...

As minimalistic as these etudes are, they still contain interesting progressions and harmonies. Glass has a very unique texture and style that he impliments in his works. Regardless of the simplicity compared to classical composers, these pieces are a fine example of the freedom of the 20th and 21st century style. Overall, quite intriguing.

Saw him twice on his solo piano tours. He's a national treasure.