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Philip Glass, Premiering 'A Toltec Symphony'

Ancient traditions and beliefs of the peoples of Mesoamerica influence Symphony No. 7 - A Toltec Symphony, composed by Philip Glass as a commissioned tribute to Leonard Slatkin, musical director of the National Symphony Orchestra. The Toltecs, Glass says, "emphasized the relationship with the forces of the natural world" -- sun, earth, water, fire, wind -- in developing their own wisdom traditions."

Notes on 'A Toltec Symphony'

Thursday's National Symphony Orchestra premiere was conducted by Leonard Slatkin, the orchestra's music director. Only fitting, since Symphony No. 7 - A Toltec Symphony was composed in 2004 under a commission from the NSO in honor of Slatkin's 60th-birthday season, with support from the John and June Hechinger Commissioning Fund for New Orchestral Works.

The score calls a piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, an English horn, two clarinets, E-flat clarinet, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, a tuba, a timpani, a rattle, a tom-tom, a wood block, a glockenspiel, a piano, a celesta, a harp, strings, organ, and chorus.

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.