Kundun [Soundtrack]

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Release Date
DescriptionExcerpt

Kundun, filmmaker Martin Scorsese's 1997 biography of the Dalai Lama, was a labor of love for both the director and composer. The Village Voice praised the "caressing intensity" of Glass's score: "A mere phrase can insinuate a range of feeling, from poignancy to majesty."

Description

The score to Martin Scorsese’s film biography of the Dalai Lama is performed by a unique orchestra comprised of Tibetan and Western instruments, led by the composer. Kundun tells the life story of the 14th Dalai Lama, from his discovery during childhood through the Chinese invasion of Tibet, to his journey into exile which raised the world’s consciousness to the plight of his people.

In discussing Kundun, Scorsese calls his collaboration with Glass “the realization of a long-cherished dream.” He continues: “[Glass's] Buddhist faith and deep understanding of Tibetan culture combine with the subtlety of his composition to play an essential role in our movie on the life of the Dalai Lama. Philip Glass is an artist of tremendous sensitivity whose music works from the inside of the film, from its heart, to produce a powerful emotional intensity which remains for days in the listener’s head ... For me, the images in the film no longer stand on their own without Philip Glass’s music. I consider myself fortunate, indeed blessed, to have worked with him on Kundun.”

Glass, who has long been involved with the Tibetan community in both India and the United States said, “I felt that the only way for the music to be an organic part of the film was to work throughout the entire process of shooting and editing. It was very interactive and I believe that Marty enjoyed it as much as I did.”

 

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Music Composed by Philip Glass
Music Conducted by Michael Reisman
Music Produced by Kurt Munkacsi
Executive Music Producer: Jim Keller
Recorded at The Looking Glass Studios, New York City
A Production of Euphorbia Productions, New York City
Engineer: Martin Czembor
Assistant Engineers: Ryoji Hata, John Billingsley
Chief Technical Engineer: Jamie Mereness
Computer Technician: Dylan Drazen
Production Coodinators: Veronica Arroyo, Ramona Kirshenman
Assistant Production Coordinators: Emily Hall Shannon, Sean McCaul
Studio Management: Amanda Reisman
Interns: Jason Smirchich, Kenneth Marks, Palo Chalupka, John Ho
Gyuto Monks courtesy of Windham Hill records, produced by Mickey Hart
Monks of the Drukpa Order courtesy of Lyrichord Discs

Executives in Charge of Music for The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group: Kathy Nelson and Bill Green

Kundun published by Touchstone Pictures Music & Songs, Inc. (ASCAP). All other Philip Glass music published by Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc., New York City

Design: Merideth Harte for 27.12 design Ltd., New York City

Nonesuch Selection Number

79460

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
ns_album_artistid
47
ns_album_id
125
ns_album_releasedate
ns_genre_1
0
ns_genre_2
0
Album Status
Artist Name
Philip Glass
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
Dhondup Namgyal Khorko, Tibetan horns and cymbals
Alan Raph, bass trombone
Lauren Goldenstein-Stubbs, bassoon, contrabassoon
Gordon Gottlieb, percussion
Steven Hartman, clarinet, bass clarinet
Susan Jolles, harp
Sharon Moe, French Horn
Michael Riesman, piano, celeste, synthesizer
Henry Schuman, oboe
Richard Sher, cello
Andrew Sterman, piccolo
Carol Wincenc, flute
Wilmer Wise, trumpet
Gyuto Monks
Monks of The Drukpa Order

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
CD+MP3
UPC
075597946024BUN
Label
MP3
Price
10.00
UPC
075597946062
  • 79460

Track Listing

News & Reviews

  • Composer/pianist Timo Andres has made his NPR Tiny Desk Concert debut with a performance of two Philip Glass Piano Etudes—Nos. 6 and 5—that premiered today, on Glass's eighty-seventh birthday. You can watch it here. Andres performs Glass's Evening Song No. 2 on the 2020 Nonesuch album I Still Play. Andres's new album, The Blind Banister, is due March 22.

  • Kronos Quartet’s acclaimed 1995 album Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass is now available on vinyl for the first time, to coincide with Kronos: Five Decades, a year-long celebration of the quartet’s 50th anniversary. The two-LP set, produced by the composer, Judith Sherman, and Kurt Munkacsi, features violinists David Harrington and John Sherba, violist Hank Dutt, and cellist Joan Jeanrenaud performing quartets No. 2 (Company) (1983), No. 3 (Mishima) (1985), No. 4 (Buczak) (1990), and No. 5 (1991), the first piece Glass wrote for Kronos. “It contains some of Glass's best music since Koyaanisqatsi,” said the New York Times. “His ear for sumptuous string sonorities is undeniable.” The Washington Post called it “an ideal combination of composer and performers.”

Buy Now

  • About This Album

    The score to Martin Scorsese’s film biography of the Dalai Lama is performed by a unique orchestra comprised of Tibetan and Western instruments, led by the composer. Kundun tells the life story of the 14th Dalai Lama, from his discovery during childhood through the Chinese invasion of Tibet, to his journey into exile which raised the world’s consciousness to the plight of his people.

    In discussing Kundun, Scorsese calls his collaboration with Glass “the realization of a long-cherished dream.” He continues: “[Glass's] Buddhist faith and deep understanding of Tibetan culture combine with the subtlety of his composition to play an essential role in our movie on the life of the Dalai Lama. Philip Glass is an artist of tremendous sensitivity whose music works from the inside of the film, from its heart, to produce a powerful emotional intensity which remains for days in the listener’s head ... For me, the images in the film no longer stand on their own without Philip Glass’s music. I consider myself fortunate, indeed blessed, to have worked with him on Kundun.”

    Glass, who has long been involved with the Tibetan community in both India and the United States said, “I felt that the only way for the music to be an organic part of the film was to work throughout the entire process of shooting and editing. It was very interactive and I believe that Marty enjoyed it as much as I did.”

     

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    Dhondup Namgyal Khorko, Tibetan horns and cymbals
    Alan Raph, bass trombone
    Lauren Goldenstein-Stubbs, bassoon, contrabassoon
    Gordon Gottlieb, percussion
    Steven Hartman, clarinet, bass clarinet
    Susan Jolles, harp
    Sharon Moe, French Horn
    Michael Riesman, piano, celeste, synthesizer
    Henry Schuman, oboe
    Richard Sher, cello
    Andrew Sterman, piccolo
    Carol Wincenc, flute
    Wilmer Wise, trumpet
    Gyuto Monks
    Monks of The Drukpa Order

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Music Composed by Philip Glass
    Music Conducted by Michael Reisman
    Music Produced by Kurt Munkacsi
    Executive Music Producer: Jim Keller
    Recorded at The Looking Glass Studios, New York City
    A Production of Euphorbia Productions, New York City
    Engineer: Martin Czembor
    Assistant Engineers: Ryoji Hata, John Billingsley
    Chief Technical Engineer: Jamie Mereness
    Computer Technician: Dylan Drazen
    Production Coodinators: Veronica Arroyo, Ramona Kirshenman
    Assistant Production Coordinators: Emily Hall Shannon, Sean McCaul
    Studio Management: Amanda Reisman
    Interns: Jason Smirchich, Kenneth Marks, Palo Chalupka, John Ho
    Gyuto Monks courtesy of Windham Hill records, produced by Mickey Hart
    Monks of the Drukpa Order courtesy of Lyrichord Discs

    Executives in Charge of Music for The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group: Kathy Nelson and Bill Green

    Kundun published by Touchstone Pictures Music & Songs, Inc. (ASCAP). All other Philip Glass music published by Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc., New York City

    Design: Merideth Harte for 27.12 design Ltd., New York City