In celebration of Philip Glass's 75th birthday, Sony Classical is planning to release The Essential Philip Glass on February 7, offering a range of material by the contemporary American composer.

Considered a minimalist by some, the composer prefers to refer to his signature style as "music with repetitive structures" or to himself as a "classicist".

The limited edition three-CD set is a collection of music including his seminal Portrait Operas (Einstein On The Beach, Satyagraha and Akhnaten) along with film scores such as Koyaanisquatsi.

Collaborations in the package feature fellow classical artists Yo-Yo Ma and the Kronos Quartet, as well as pop singers Suzanne Vega and Linda Ronstadt.

In addition, his dance scores for Twyla Tharp and Jerome Robbins and theatre works are among the selections.

Glass will also release his Ninth Symphony for his 75th birthday, a commission from the Bruckner Orchester Linz, with a US premiere performance at Carnegie Hall. This latest symphony is available on iTunes exclusively.

Glass won the National Endowment for the Arts' Opera Honours Award in 2010. He has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards, and a Golden Globe. His film works include The Hours, The Truman Show and The Illusionist.