Glass on Glass
by Ira Glass, Philip Glass, and Jeremy Dalmas 2007
Posted 12/17/07
As most of you likely saw on your e-news bulletin Molly Molasses and I had the honor of being awarded the top prize several weeks ago at the Eighty-Fourth Annual This American Life International Break-Up Song Contest. (Check out here). After the fanfare of the awards show Mr. Glass humbled himself by approaching us and requesting a favor: another beautiful gem of sound. With Molasses leaving for her expedition through the glaciers of the Northeast, I was by myself to fill the order. I was devestated. A second masterpiece for public radio in a single month? And without my other musical half? I was up late at night stuffed in my recording cave, coffee stained cups lining my desk, listening to Ira's sweet voice through for inspiration when by chance I overheard the Kronos Quartet practicing in the adjacent room. It was then that I realized something extraordinary: Ira's father's cousin is the elusive minimalist composer Philip Glass! I cut and pasted several tracks and came up with this surreal musical answer to Ira's daunting challenge combining audio from both celebrity branches of the family to create a whole new Glass. NPR was ecstatic, Pulitzers were passed out and we went out for deep dish pizza and root beer.
Here is "Glass on Glass".
I am currently working on Riley on O'Reilley (as in Terry and Bill) and Reich on Reich (as is Steve and The Third.)
