If you're short of a new source of samples you could do worse than to turn to the glass (not the bottle). Tom McLaughlin explains how a wine glass can provide a wide variety of unusual tone colours.

The synthesist who knows no parameters discusses his works. Interview by Tony Mills

The man the man who the man who makes the man who the man who the man who makes repetitive music.

Philip Glass is best known for his work as a minimalist classical composer, but recently he's been completing work in fields as diverse as opera, piano recitals, film and synth ensembles. Mark Jenkins talked to the minimalist maestro during a fleeting visit to London for his latest opera, 'The Making Of The Representative From Planet 8'.

Handle With Care

Systems composer Philip Glass is still high technology's best-known 'serious music' champion. But how good have the performances of his latest opera, 'Akhnaten' really been? Annabel Stott again.

composing with technology

Phillip Glass

The Making Of A New Music Supremo

Philip Glass is the best known, and certainly the best paid, contemporary new music composer. In London for performances of his music for the films Koyaanisqatsi and Powaqqatsi, he talked to Mark J. Prendergast.

Philip Glass: Glazed expression

Sheer XTC

A truly classy digital reverb at a sensible price.

Peter Gabriel, The Ramones, Philip Glass, That Petrol Emotion, and old-time Velvet Underground.

Acoustics

Control room window design.

New noises to try for your DX7, Juno 106, JX8P, and CZ101 synths. Get twiddling.

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Category crossing contemporary composer cornered

The good Fairy Trynkabell trips off to a Fantasyland where money doesn't matter, talent rarely counts, and you can't move for Robber Barons and Wicked Queens. Yes folks, it's the Diary. (Boo! Hiss!)

birthday treat: One Two staff lick pencils