Philip Glass
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The best American composers
5. Philip Glass
Maryland-born Philip Glass has had a long and varied career, collaborating with everyone from Leonard Cohen to Martin Scorsese and encompassing all musical genres. Despite gaining a wide audience outside the concert hall, Glass describes himself as a classicist writing works for the musical group which he founded, the Philip Glass Ensemble. He has picked up several awards for his soundtracks, including an Oscar for his score to The Truman show and a BAFTA for The Hours. Jiří Kylián’s ballet Wings of Wax featured the music of Philip Glass alongside that of Bach’s. Pictured is the Netherlands Dans Theatre dancing a scene from the ballet at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre in 2008.
