The Glass Orchestra

Throughout its documented history of over 2000 years, glass music has surfaced in many different cultures and in many different forms. The musicians of the Glass Orchestra carry on the long tradition of glass music by designing, building and playing their own instruments. The Glass Orchestra, founded in 1977, is the only ensemble in the world whose... musicians create and perform contemporary compositions entirely with glass instruments. Drawing on a wide range of musical influences and performance techniques, the musicians explore the unique sonic properties of glass, creating an ethereal, percussive soundscape with a vast array of glass instruments, both found and custom made. The skill of the members of the Orchestra in designing and making glass instruments has earned them a place in the New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments. The Glass Orchestra has appeared in major cities across Canada and has toured the United States from New York to Honolulu, and Europe from London to Berlin. The ensemble has toured numerous times throughout Asian regions to critical acclaim. The group has performed in festivals, prestigious concert halls, museums and galleries to experimental arts venues and private functions. The ensemble has participated in residencies providing specialized workshops and performances both as an ensemble and with special guest artists. Because of the extremes of its dynamic and frequency ranges, glass music has always proved a challenge to record. The Glass Orchestra has released five commercial recordings, the most recent titled Live From The Archive which is a collection of live works drawn from the ensembles extensive performance history.Read More