On the occasion of his seventy-fifth birthday, Philip Glass occupies the front page of iTunes: a recording of his Ninth Symphony — which had its world première on New Year's Day, in Linz, and which the American Composers Orchestra will play at Carnegie tonight — is now available. The Carnegie concert looks to be sold out; if you lack a ticket, go instead to the World Financial Center, where Bill Morrison's hugely moving film The Miners' Hymns will be shown, with the Wordless Music Orchestra playing Jóhann Jóhannsson's score live. It's difficult to imagine that achievement without the precedent of Koyaanisqatsi. Today let's recall not only the peaks of Glass's career but also his extraordinary, quiet generosity to hundreds of fellow composers and musicians. Happy birthday!
