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Chris Higgins
Sesame Street + Philip Glass = Crazy Brain Explosion
by Chris Higgins - December 14, 2009 - 3:25 PM

In 1979, Philip Glass composed some music for Sesame Street; the music was used to back geometric animations showing how a simple circle could be subdivided and repeated to make more complex shapes and patterns (in much the same way that Glass’s music uses patterns, repetition, and subtle alteration to create melody and complexity). It’s hard to find the resulting work (entitled “Geometry of Circles”) that was shown on Sesame Street three decades ago, though it has been re-aired a few times over the years and some folks have recorded and posted snippets of the recordings to YouTube. Below, check out some of the Sesame Street/Philip Glass animations…and prepare to have your brain melted…by circles. And Philip Glass music.

And here’s a short segment from the official Sesame Street YouTube channel:

Further reading: Geometry of Circles on Muppet Wiki (yes, there’s a Muppet Wiki and this is not the first time I’ve linked to it…), Philip Glass on Wikipedia, and Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days (a DVD set which includes one of the animation clips). You’ve gotta hand it to these Muppet Wiki folks: they’re archivists of our childhood.

(Via Kottke.org.)

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Comments (13)

  1. So I’m sitting at work, enjoying my lunch, and I’m watching this and I have a vague memory of watching this as a child. I remember everyday coming home and watching Sesame Street and Mr Rogers Neighborhood eating my SpaghettiOs.

    I look down. My wife sent me to work today with SpaghettiOs. I felt all warm and fuzzy.

    posted by Nathan on 12-14-2009 at 3:38 pm

  2. how freaking cool is this that it was intended for preschoolers!?

    posted by ac on 12-14-2009 at 4:23 pm

  3. Five seconbds into the clip I said “That’s Koyaaisqatsi.” Looked it up on IMDB and sure enough Phillip Glass is credited with the score. My copy of the tape is in my hand as I write this, it is awesome.

    posted by Ken on 12-14-2009 at 5:09 pm

  4. Complete flashback: THIS is why I wanted a spyrograph so badly! I loved that game! Got to find me another one!

    posted by Nona on 12-14-2009 at 6:47 pm

  5. Ken – yup, this would have been done right around the same time he was doing the Koyaanisqatsi score. K is one of my favorites of all time!

    posted by Chris Higgins on 12-14-2009 at 7:14 pm

  6. Wow, I had no idea this was Philip Glass.
    I loved this as a kid.

    posted by Stephanie on 12-14-2009 at 7:29 pm

  7. Oh wow! I remember this! I remember thinking the designs made were really cool, and being completely captivated by the music. I had no idea that was Philip Glass; the only introduction I’ve had to him is when South Park made fun of his music.

    posted by Kate on 12-14-2009 at 7:32 pm

  8. Kate – if you want a good intro to Glass’s music, check out either the “Koyaanisqatsi” soundtrack (pretty intense — may be a bit too much) or his “Solo Piano” album (good moody piano music, also useful for studying/working).

    The latter was featured in Battlestar Galactica briefly, when we see Kara’s apartment and her “father’s” piano music is played — it’s actually Glass’s “Solo Piano.”

    posted by Chris Higgins on 12-14-2009 at 7:48 pm

  9. Chris, I really dig your posts. You are absolutely one of the reasons I visit MF repeatedly throughout my day. Thanks.

    posted by Arian on 12-14-2009 at 8:49 pm

  10. I recall this creeping me out as a kid.

    posted by L e a n n a on 12-15-2009 at 12:32 am

  11. One of my favorite jokes….

    Knock Knock Knock Knock Knock

    Who’s there?

    Philip Glass!

    posted by Devin Greaney on 12-15-2009 at 10:03 am

  12. This is awesome, and I remember watching this as a kid! Thanks for the great post. I can’t wait to introduce my baby daughter to this kind of thing.

    This would be awesome with fractals! (That’s a sentence I don’t think I’ve ever used before).

    For the folks who want more Philip Glass for free… check out the link in my name. Should take you to a free download at Amazon for a Philip Glass MP3 sampler. I think the offer is still valid.

    posted by Roger on 12-15-2009 at 12:15 pm

  13. Oh, I ate these up when I was a kid. Happy to see them again! :D

    posted by Yanichka on 3-14-2010 at 6:39 pm

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