Music with Roots in the Aether: Opera for Television

In 1975, the composer Robert Ashley embarked on an ambitious work titled Music With Roots in the Aether. He called it an opera (or piece of theater, depending on the case) for television. The work is comprised of seven two-hour sections. Each episode is dedicated to investigations, interviews, and performances of one of his peers – David Behrman, Philip Glass, Alvin Lucier, Gordon Mumma, Pauline Oliveros, and Terry Riley, respectively, with the final reserved for himself.

Directed by —, Music with Roots in the Aether: Opera for Television leans on a strong ensemble — Robert Ashley — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 1976.