094: Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance OST, by Philip Glass

Philip Glass (USA)
Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance OST (1983)
13 tracks, 76 minutes
Spotify • iTunes

Koyaanisqatsi is a 1982 film by director Godfrey Reggio and cinematographer Ron Fricke that uses visuals, as opposed to language, to convey its message. Various images of human behaviour, technology, scenery and nature are juxtaposed in ways that are awesome in the literal sense of the word. With Reggio’s technique, footage that would be otherwise mundane becomes unnerving simply by the images it is contrasted with. It all highlights the concept of koyaanisqatsi: a Hopi word meaning ‘life out of balance;’ the idea, stunningly and convincingly portrayed, is that humans are living outside of their means, inviting disaster upon ourselves. The film was made 37 years ago and things have only changed for the worse since. The film is a really interesting watch, and remains as uncomfortable and unsettling as it is enjoyable.

A huge part of the artistic success of the film is down to its soundtrack, composed by Philip Glass and performed by his ensemble. In terms of its effectiveness as a film score, Glass’s work on Koyaanisqatsi is basically unparalleled, which makes it even more impressive that it works equally as well as a stand-alone suite as with the film.

This was Glass’s very first film score, but he got it exactly right. He utilises all of the minimalist styles he is most well-known for, the ever-repeating arpeggios, the deep drones and the ever-changing time signatures, all without getting boring. It has periods of calm and periods of frenetic activity, sometimes it sounds triumphant and sometimes bleak but all the way through there is a powerful sense of foreboding. The use of synthesisers, too, as an integral part of the sound alongside the standard orchestral instruments is a great addition, as it brings otherworldly timbres into play alongside the earthier acoustics, again juxtaposing the natural and the synthetic.

Some of the pieces that make up this soundtrack have gone on to have lives of their own, too. ‘Pruitt Igoe,’ for one, has become iconic, for both its music and the film sequence. It’s on YouTube:

And then there’s the opening piece, ‘Koyaanisqatsi,’ which sets the tone for the rest of the film and its score with its slow but insistent organ figure and basso profondo repeating that key word. Sinister.

Glass’s score to Koyaanisqatsi is a complete triumph. Without it (or, more practically, with a different style of score), it is difficult to imagine that the film would have worked anywhere near as well, in terms of emotional evocation or even just interest; it takes something special to sit through 85 minutes of contrasting images. As it is, the film is a key cultural touchstone and its score is a wonder of minimalist composition.