Symphony No. 13 (Glass)

Last updated
Symphony No. 13
by Philip Glass
Truth in Our Time Album Cover.jpg
The album cover of Truth in Our Time
Period Contemporary
Style Postmodern, minimalist
Form Symphony
Composed2020
Duration20 minutes [1]
Premiere
DateMarch 20, 2022 (2022-03-20)
Location Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto
Conductor Alexander Shelley
Performers National Arts Centre Orchestra

Symphony No. 13 (Truth in Our Time) is the thirteenth symphony written by American composer Philip Glass. It was commissioned by the National Arts Centre Orchestra as a tribute to Canadian-American journalist Peter Jennings. [2] The work was premiered by the orchestra under conductor Alexander Shelley on March 20th, 2022 at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto.

Contents

The piece is in 3 movements. Movement I has a sonata-like form and lasts approximately 8 minutes, Movement II lasts approximately 6 minutes, and Movement III uses a quintuple meter and a coda and lasts approximately 7 minutes. [3] [4]

History

The idea for the Symphony was first envisioned by Jennings' children, as a multimedia musical work, during a visit to their aunt Sarah in Ottawa. Their aunt had heard that the National Arts Centre Orchestra were looking to commission a new piece by an international composer. She gave her support without choosing the composer; in 2019, the orchestra ending up choosing Philip Glass whom had been awarded the Glenn Gould Prize in Ottawa in 2016. [5] [6] [7] Glass composed the piece over the summer of 2020 [8]

"I was very impressed by the NAC Orchestra when receiving the Glenn Gould Prize, and was excited to receive this commission from them to honour the person, work and ethos of Peter Jennings, on a theme which is very close to my heart," Glass in 2019. [7]

Premiere

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg The Symphony's Premiere at Southam Hall

The piece's world premiere was on March 20, 2022, 8 PM, at Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto; it was performed with Shostakovich's 9th and Korngold’s Violin Concerto . [9] [10] The work debuted in the United States, alongside a performance of Yurii Shevchenko  [ uk ]'s We Do Exist, [11] at Carnegie Hall, Manhattan, New York City on April 5, 2022, at 8 PM. [12] [13] The piece completed its premiere tour with two performances on April 13 and April 14, 2022, in Southam Hall, Ottawa. [4]

Instrumentation

The piece was orchestrated for: two Flutes (the second player doubling the Piccolo) two Oboes, two Clarinets in B-flat (the second doubling the Bass Clarinet) two Bassoons, four Horns in F, three Trumpets in C, two Trombones, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, two percussion players (using the Triangle, Tambourine, Suspended Cymbal, Tam-tam, Woodblock, three Bongos, Snare Drum, Tenor Drum, and Bass Drum), Harp, and String Orchestra. [14] [1]

Recordings

ConductorOrchestraRecording DateFormatsLabelsCatalogue IDReferences
Alexander Shelley National Arts Centre Orchestra 2022, released 2024CD / Digital Orange Mountain Music OMM0166 [15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Symphony No. 13 – Philip Glass" . Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  2. ↑ "NAC Orchestra's Alexander Shelley discusses new album and tribute to Canadian journalist Peter Jennings". The Globe and Mail. 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  3. ↑ National Arts Centre Orchestra, Philip Glass, Alexander Shelley, James Ehnes - Truth In Our Time, 2024, retrieved 2026-01-10
  4. 1 2 "A spring classical concert round-up: The world premiere of Philip Glass's Symphony No. 13 and more". The Globe and Mail. 2022-03-28. Retrieved 2026-01-10.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ Saxberg, Lynn (April 8, 2022). "The National Arts Centre Orchestra played Carnegie Hall this week, for the first time in decades" . Retrieved November 18, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ Hum, Peter (12 December 2019). "NAC commissions renowned composer Philip Glass to write a piece honouring Peter Jennings". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  7. 1 2 Nathanson, Marc. "Philip Glass to write new orchestral work in honor of news anchor Peter Jennings". ABC News. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  8. ↑ Saxberg, Lynn (2022-03-29). "NAC Orchestra debuts tribute to the late Peter Jennings" . Retrieved 2025-11-18.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ "Truth in Our Time – Toronto | NAC Orchestra 2022 Tour | Wed, Mar 30, 2022, 8:00 pm | Roy Thomson Hall". nac-cna.ca. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  10. ↑ "SCRUTINY | There Was More To NACO's Concert Than A Philip Glass Premiere". Ludwig van Toronto. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  11. ↑ "Video Legendary news anchor honored at symphony". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  12. ↑ Grella, George. "New York Classical Review". newyorkclassicalreview.com. Retrieved 2025-11-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ "Presented by Canada's National Arts Centre Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra Truth in our Time". www.carnegiehall.org. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  14. ↑ "Symphony No. 13". Wise Music Classical. Retrieved 10 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ↑ "Glass: Symphony No. 13 'Truth in our Time'". Presto Music. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
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