Philip Glass: Metamorphosis One

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There’s a line from a song on the new Death Cab for Cutie album, Plans, that reminds me of a television show which reminds me of the song I have deposited below.

The DCFC song is “Soul Meets Body” and the line from the song is: “and if the silence takes you, then I hope it takes me too,” but what I always hear and am tempted to sing is: “and if the cylons take you…” Why? Because the wifey and I have been enjoying some Battlestar Galactica. If you don’t follow me, you should check out the show.

So what on earth does all of that have to do with the track I’m sharing with you, which is beautifully soothing minimalist neoclassical piano from Philip Glass?

Easy, Mr. Hypothetical Question Asker! I’m glad you asked. That is your job, anyway, so you might as well do it. Sorry if I’m working you a bit hard the last couple of days.

Ahem.

Moving right along… In one of the episodes from season 2, this simple and moving song is featured extensively. This song was my first introduction to Philip Glass. I can say I was pleased to meet the chap. In fact, I quickly snapped up this album – the very precisely titled, Solo Piano – on everyone’s favorite source for DRM-free music, allofmp3.com.

The rest of the album is similar, and it seems to be perfect for interesting but relaxed atmosphere music, as I found out this evening.

I hope you have someone special you can share this track with.

If you don’t have someone special, consider inviting Mr. Hypothetical Question Asker to join you. He won’t let you down.

Unless by “letting you down” you mean lowering you in a wooden pail down into a pit of crocodiles after binding your hands and feet with zip ties. He would do that, of course. Perhaps even while listening to the sounds of Philip Glass…

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[mp3 download]

  • Manu

    This song is so moving !
    I saw this ep last night, and I looked everywhere to find it, and it’s here I finally found it! Thank you very much !

  • Benny Hill

    Hey, just wanted to say thank you for putting that MP3 up there. I just watched a rerun of the Battlestar Galactica’s “Valley of Darkness” that uses this wonderful piece of music.

  • http://www.icebreaker.org.uk Richard Witts

    Hi,
    I thought you may like to know that from tonight (13 Jan 2006) Radio Icebreaker on totallyradio.com is playing the premiere of Icebreaker’s realisation of Philip’s Music With Changing Parts, a realisation sanctioned by Philip, and the first performance of the work in Europe for 30 years. It was given for the Tate Modern, London, in July 2005, and the radio relay is that perfomance. You can access it directly for free through http://www.icebreaker.org.uk or http://www.totallyradio.com.
    Please give it a listen and tell us what you think of it.
    - Richard

  • vortex

    This is a great track, I herd it on Battlestar Galactica.

    Thanks….

  • John P

    Fantastic piece of music – I first heard it in the new Battlestar Galactica series and it truly is wonderful. Moving, soothing yet with a dramatic undertone also.

    Thankyou so much for making it available as an mp3.

  • Caro

    Thanks for putting up an MP3 of that track. We just got to see the BSG episode here last week and I thought the scenes at the end were made all the more affecting by the music.

  • kate

    Wow like most of the people who have commented on this track i too heard it on BSG a few weeks ago and have been trying to find it since then and have only now just managed to do so.its really a powerful piece and i adore it and im so happy that its availiable as a mp3