Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out Of Balance (1983 Film) [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The striking time-lapse imagery of Godfrey Reggio's Koyaanisquatsi was really an accompaniment to Philip Glass's music, rather than the other way around. Think of it this way: You can listen to the music without the film, but you'd never watch the film without the music. OK, maybe you didn't leave the theater humming the tunes (although I do remember going around chanting that thrillingly deep-throated "Koyaanisqatsi" for a while); this is some of Glass's most dramatic and powerful music-- essential for anybody interested in modern film music, or just modern music in general. --Jim Emerson

Album Details
Koyaanisqatsi - Life Out of Balance - Music by Phillip Glass.

Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out Of Balance (1983 Film), Music, John Beal, Beverly Lauridsen, Frederick Zlotkin, Kermit Moore, Seymour Barab, Bob Mintzer, Jack Kripl, Philip Glass, Michael Riesman, Peter Gordon, Russ Rizner-French, Russell Rizner, Sharon Moe, Jon Gibson, Richard Peck, George Flynn, James (Jim) Pugh, Keith O'Quin, Allan Dean, Charles Lewis, Lew Soloff, Mark Gould, J. Samuel ("Sam") Pilafian, Warren Deck, Jean Dane, Jill Jaffe, Sue Pray, Albert De Ruiter, Classical, Film, Film Music, Soundtrack, Soundtracks, Soundtracks & Film Scores

Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out Of Balance (1983 Film)
Average customer rating:

You have to see it live!!!

The Grid was better in this recording

Leaves out one of the best pieces

A teaser at best...

Get the Re-Recording!!!!

Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out Of Balance (1983 Film)

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Naqoyqatsi (Score)

Powaqqatsi (1988 Film)

Koyaanisqatsi - Life Out of Balance

Koyaanisqatsi / Powaqqatsi (2 Pack)

Koyaanisqatsi (1998 Re-recording)

ASIN: B000001F4L
Release Date: 1995-04-17

Tracks:

Koyaanisqatsi
Vessels
Cloudscape
Pruit Igoe
The Grid
Prophecies

Amazon.com

The striking time-lapse imagery of Godfrey Reggio's Koyaanisquatsi was really an accompaniment to Philip Glass's music, rather than the other way around. Think of it this way: You can listen to the music without the film, but you'd never watch the film without the music. OK, maybe you didn't leave the theater humming the tunes (although I do remember going around chanting that thrillingly deep-throated "Koyaanisqatsi" for a while); this is some of Glass's most dramatic and powerful music-- essential for anybody interested in modern film music, or just modern music in general. --Jim Emerson

Album Details

Koyaanisqatsi - Life Out of Balance - Music by Phillip Glass.

Customer Reviews:

You have to see it live!!!.......2005-10-29

This CD was my introduction to Philip Glass since then it has been a long down hill slide to poverty by feeding my addiction for more Glass.

If you think the VHS and DVD are good you need to see it live. I first saw Koyaanisqatsi live at Santa Monica College on the outdoor field, the second time was at Royce hall at UCLA then in 2001 at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle each time seemed better than the previous. Now that all three films are done I am hoping to see them each live in a three day marathon.

The Grid was better in this recording.......2005-03-12

The Koyaanisqatsi music is simply fantastic.

Both the original soundtrack recording, and the newer re-recording, are very good, but they are different, each with its own strengths and relative weaknesses compared to the other.

I think The Grid was much more exciting and intense, in this original version. Especially the bass; I miss the driving throbbing power of the basslines in this version, when I listen to the re-recording, where the bass is laid back in the background, in comparison.

Leaves out one of the best pieces.......2005-02-20

This is powerful music if you like Philip Glass, but this compilation lacks what I consider the most moving track. It's about 8 minutes long and I think of it as the "Desert sequence." It starts with a slow string progression over aerial views of orange canyons and Monument Valley. It's immediately followed by "Cloudscape" after the scene with the caves and steam vents. I can listen to it over and over and the power doesn't fade. It lacks the frantic harshness of some Glass material.

They re-issued the soundtrack in 1998 and may have included this track (I haven't heard it) but reviews say it's not the original stuff and sounds watered-down. I extracted and converted the Desert sequence from my DVD, so I'm happy, but they could have easily fit it on the CD since the other tracks consume just 46 minutes. I don't know why they left so much off unless they did it as an LP first and were too lazy to re-make it. CDs were introduced to the market shortly after Koyaanisqatsi was released.

A teaser at best..........2002-10-31

I've had the VHS for a number of years and watched it several times through a low end audio/video setup. It was satisfactory. This CD gave me the highlights I missed on the low end VHS tape.

I bought the DVD but haven't watched it yet because I was saving it to see the movie on the big screen. This past weekend I got to see the movie on the big screen but, to my surprise and profound glory, I got to see it not only on the big screen but I got to see it live with Philip Glass and company performing the soundtrack in person. Oh my what I've been missing.

I have since recorded the DVD onto tape and never realized just how much I missed and how profound the recording is. Of course I may be biased having seen it live and the images of the movie emblazened into my brain when I hear the score but I absolutely love this composition.

The reason it only gets four stars is that you must get the DVD; you must have the entire score. Anything less is to your loss. It's as if I never heard it before.

My recommendation is to see it with the film but the soundtrack stands on its own as an amazing piece of music. The score for Powaqqatsi is also brilliant but perhaps because, as noted on the 'extras' on the DVD, no one was waiting for this movie, this stands out as an inspired piece, moreso than Powaqqatsi (which is also brilliant but in a different way).

Invest in the DVD and don't tease yourself with this album alone. As an independent piece of music or as accompaniment to a brilliant piece of filmmaking, it's awesome.

Get the Re-Recording!!!!.......2002-01-26

Although any album by Philip Glass is worth the money, honestly, if you are craving the music from the movie "Koyaanisqatsi", then the 1998 re-Recording will please you a hundred-fold more than this one. The new one is longer and not merely a "soundtrack", it IS the movie, sans images. But you make up your own images, if you like.

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