Symphony No. 9 (Glass)

Symphony No. 9
by Philip Glass
Period	Contemporary
Style	Postmodern, minimalist
Form	Symphony
Composed	2011 (2011)
Publisher	Dunvagen Music Publishers
Duration	50 minutes
Premiere
Date	January 1, 2012 (2012-01-01)
Location	Brucknerhaus in Linz, Austria
Conductor	Dennis Russell Davies
Performers	Bruckner Orchester Linz

Symphony No. 9 is Philip Glass's ninth symphony. It was written between 2010 and 2011. It is written in 3 movements. The work was jointly commissioned by the Bruckner Orchester Linz, Carnegie Hall, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.

The symphony premiered January 1, 2012 at Brucknerhaus in Linz, Austria, with the Bruckner Orchester Linz conducted by Dennis Russell Davies. The piece received its United States premiere January 31, 2012 at Carnegie Hall, with Dennis Russell Davies conducting the American Composers Orchestra. It premiered on the West Coast April 5, 2012, with John Adams conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Reception

The symphony has been highly regarded by critics and quickly became a bestseller on iTunes following its U.S. premiere.

Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times lauded the work, declaring it "late Glass at his most momentous, a significant symphony by America’s most significant symphonist." Richard S. Ginell of Variety also praised the work, saying, "The 50-minute-plus Ninth is not Glass’s biggest symphony – that would be the 97-minute, choral Fifth – but it is one of his more imposing pieces, three sprawling movements for a very large symphony orchestra." Andrew Clements of The Guardian was slightly more critical, but commended the work, noting, "If the music occasionally hangs fire, its craftsmanship, as ever with Glass, is exemplary."