CHAPTER 66 Returning with Interest: Bowie, Glass, and Post-
modern Elaboration
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which artist began his career as a folk-rocker in the 1960s and released the album Blackstar in 2016?
a. Bob Dylan c. Philip Glass
b. David Bowie d. James Taylor
2. What is the name of the David Bowie album released shortly before his death in January 2016?
a. Heroes c. Lodger
b. Low d. Blackstar
3. ________ experimented with commercial styles as well as music from around the world.
a. “Downtown music” c. Rhythm and blues
b. Hip-hop d. None of the answers shown here.
4. What city was home to a phenomenon described as “Downtown music”?
a. Los Angeles c. New York City
b. Chicago d. London
5. With which producer did David Bowie work for the albums Low, Heroes, and Lodger?
a. Philip Glass c. Tony Visconti
b. Brian Eno d. Steve Reich
6. At one of his last performances, Prince covered ________ as a tribute to David Bowie.
a. Fame c. Heroes
b. Young Americans d. Rebel, Rebel
7. Who was a leader of the “Downtown NYC” creative group and leading exponent of minimalist composition?
a. Philip Glass c. David Bowie
b. Brian Eno d. Steve Reich
8. Philip Glass describes himself as a composer of
a. minimalist music. c. Downtown music.
b. music with repetitive structures. d. All of the answers shown here.
9. Where did Philip Glass study piano and composition?
a. Julliard School of Music c. Downtown Loft
b. Curtis Institute of Music d. New England Conservatory of Music
10. With whom did Philip Glass study music in Paris?
a. Aaron Copland c. David Bowie
b. Nadia Boulanger d. Steve Reich
11. Who is one of the best-known composers of modern times?
a. Brian Eno c. David Bowie
b. Philip Glass d. Steve Reich
12. Philip Glass is known for his
a. operas. c. concert music.
b. film scores. d. All answers shown here.
13. From whom does Philip Glass borrow musical ideas for his fourth symphony?
a. Bowie/Eno c. Ravi Shankar
b. the Beatles d. Nadia Boulanger
14. With which choreographer did Philip Glass collaborate for his fourth symphony?
a. David Bowie c. Bill. T. Jones
b. Twyla Tharpe d. Alvin Ailey
15. The fourth symphony by Philip Glass has ________ movements.
a. three c. five
b. four d. six
16. What instrument does Philip Glass play in the Philip Glass Ensemble?
a. trumpet c. electric keyboard
b. guitar d. flute
17. Which album(s) did Brian Eno produce for David Bowie?
a. Low c. Lodger
b. Heroes d. All answers shown here.
18. What was David Bowie’s reaction to hearing the Glass symphony based on Heroes?
a. He did not like it.
b. He responded positively.
c. He made no public response.
d. Bowie felt that his original work was much better.
19. Brian Eno describes his work that presents static soundscapes rather than clear melodies or form as
a. minimalism. c. ambient music.
b. “Downtown music.” d. symphonic ballets.
20. Which musician is known for his “ambient” music?
a. David Bowie c. Philip Glass
b. Brian Eno d. John Adams
21. Who wrote a symphony with the subtitle Heroes?
a. David Bowie c. Philip Glass
b. Brian Eno d. John Adams
22. David Bowie began his career as a ________ in the 1960s.
a. punk rocker c. DJ
b. folk-rocker d. studio musician
23. Twyla Tharpe is a
a. choreographer. c. cinematographer.
b. composer. d. music producer.
1. David Bowie began his career in the 1960s as a folk-rocker.
2. David Bowie rejected the phenomenon described as “Downtown music.”
3. The album Blackstar was released shortly before David Bowie’s death in 2016.
4. Philip Glass and David Bowie collaborated on the album Low.
5. Ambient music has clear melodies and identifiable forms.
6. Philip Glass borrowed musical ideas from Bowie/Eno for his first symphony.
7. Philip Glass’s fourth symphony is subtitled Heroes.
8. Philip Glass studied with Nadia Boulanger at the Julliard School of Music.
9. Einstein on the Beach is an opera by Philip Glass.
10. Alvin Ailey collaborated with Philip Glass for the composer’s fourth symphony.
11. Philip Glass’s fourth symphony has four movements.
12. The first movement from Glass’s fourth symphony includes many recognizable musical elements from the original Bowie song.
13. The fourth symphony by Philip Glass is a collaborative work.
14. Philip Glass originally envisioned his fourth symphony as a symphonic ballet.
15. Each movement from Philip Glass’s fourth symphony takes as a starting point one of the songs or instrumental tracks from David
Bowie’s album Low.
1. How is Philip Glass’s fourth symphony a collaborative work?
2. Why is David Bowie considered a creative chameleon?
3. Compare Philip Glass’s work to that of Steve Reich. What do Electric Counterpoint and Heroes have in common, and how do they
sound different?