3.9 Philip Glass, Early Days, and Remaining Free

An audio message recorded for a friend on my phone — An interview with Philip Glass — His early years — One of the most successful composers of our time — Film music, operas, and countless other types of pieces — His first opera — Back to driving a taxi — Opera doesn’t make a profit — Nothing to fall back on — Always working on many things rather than a single big thing — Not allowed into the usual concert venues — Radically different music — Music with repetitive structures — Gatekeepers of the classical music world — He was the future — A threat to the existing order — No connections in the establishment — No encouragement from anyone in the wider musical world until he was in his 50s — He didn’t owe anyone anything — An excellent position to be in — Independent — Published his own music — An honest person — Finding the audience on his own — Only started making a living from his music in his 40s — A long road — Inspiring — Two types of creative people — Making just what you like — How I need to have my life