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My song of the day is an incredible piece that my cousin showed me a week or two ago. The composition is titled "Funeral of Amenhotep III" from Phillip Glass's opera Akhnaten. It originally premiered in 1985 at the Stuttgart State Theatre in Germany, but it came back for a few shows in Los Angeles recently. I never saw the opera, but I'm kicking myself for it now.
Akhnaten was an Egyptian pharaoh who ruled over ancient Egypt for 17 years and instilled policies that were controversial and unsettling to his people. He abandoned the idea of polytheism, aka believing in many gods, in favor of worshipping the sun, "Aten". Akhnaten's name was originally Amenhotep IV, so the song in focus is about the funeral of his father Amenhotep III
Bust of the Pharaoh Akhnaten
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And the song makes sense when you consider the context. I've never seen the play so I'm not sure exactly how it was utilized, but when you listen it feels like you're preparing yourself for something. Like you're getting ready for a battle, picking up swords and spears and fitting your armor. The title says this is obviously about a funeral for his father. Maybe it's Akhnaten mentally preparing himself to rock ancient Egyptian culture to its core.
In terms of its aesthetics, this song has a plethora of beautifully arranged peaks and valleys in the choral arrangements. The interplay between that one deeper voice and the higher background ones, and the way they overlap is so satisfying. It always feels like it's building up to something. Constantly ascending. And the rhythmic pounding of the drums just keeps you chugging along - like you're barreling towards something powerful. It's another fantastic gem coming from a long line of great work by the one and only Phillip Glass.
Philip Glass - Funeral of Amenhotep III
Great piece (although Glass is not really my thing!), but it really is quite evocative!
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Thank you! Yea not everyone likes him but I'm on the side that loves what he does
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