by Douglas Burkett The first two movements are unique in that they are original compositions and that they continue to show Glass' evolution as a composer. I found these first two movements stirring and striking in their building and climaxes. While maintaining predictable (but enjoyable) Glass-like rhythm, these two movements contain a lot of interesting techniques and mixes of timbres and tonalaties. At times the orchestration and peaks of the movements are kind of a hybrid between the sound palettes of 'Itaipu' and 'Akhnaten' just to give a slight idea. The chorus is used as an instrument here as they are in 'Itaipu'. Overall a very wonderful, dynamic and very skilled two movements from Glass. The Third Movement is what kept this from being a great album. The entire Third Movement of this Symphony is an extended, orchestrated version of the track 'The Unutterable' from 'Powaqqatsi'. It's not just a small part of it or just a segment of it or even a variation of it...it IS the exact same track extended and scored for orchestra. It is a wonderful piece of music both on this recording and on the original 'Powaqqatsi' soundtrack but I expected three movements of an original composition and not two amazing, original movements followed by a re-orchestration of a previously composed piece (as good as it is on its own). If you have not heard it before it will be wonderful but it was a let down and when it first started playing I honestly thought for a moment that the disc changer had started playing the 'Powaqqatsi' CD for some reason. So, other than for Glass 'borrowing' from himself for the entire Third Movement it is a wonderful work and there is still an enjoyment of listening to the orchestrated version of 'The Unutterable', but it's still disappointing not to have three completely original pieces for this otherwise magnificant work.