Methamorphosis

Phillip Glass through Kafka's book.

In ‘Methamorphosis’ the combination of individual pieces is more complex than the individual work. The repetition in each serial is used to create a very complex structure. When the receptor learn to identify these repetitions (even if it’s unconscious), he learns a new perspective that focuses on the combinatory possibilities hidden in the melody; this isn’t, for sure, minimal. Minimal is the aesthetic.  

“In a similar fashion, ‘II’ begins where ‘I’ departed, though there is something quite beautiful and heavy about this movement that makes it outweigh its predecessor in terms of grandeur. Serenity is a word that purely describes what may be perceived while watching a seed germinate into a sprout, and this feeling, riddles the second movement’s sound. Don’t be fooled by the beginning measures of ‘III’ though, despite the fact it sound like a return toward to previous passage, it quickly runs into a syncopated rhythmical quality, which is rather different from that of the previous themes expressed. ‘IV’ is no exception towards this phenomenon. While the arppegiated chords are particularly entertaining, they don’t rescue the movement’s melodic tension. However, the tension is released as it departs, and makes its way into the wonderful fifth passage. ‘V’ appears to be a celebration of the collection as a whole, revisiting everything that has been expressed so far in a sort of medley, making it the best movement to depict what Metamorphosis.”