Great music
Roland | Idaho | 02/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This recording captures the essence of Glass minimal composition, and has the same feeling and emotion that his other solo piano recordings contain.
In fact, this is one of the best solo piano recordings in my opinion, since their is much more variety here than compared to the album "Solo Piano," and there is more emotion on this compare to Etudes Vol. 1. This is also a good recording since there are only two songs that are borrowed from other recordings, namely Facades from Glassworks, and Metamorphosis #3 from Solo Piano. Facades is a beautiful song on solo piano, and actually sounds better on this without the flute in my opinion. Arguably the best solo piano Glass recording to date. the second best I would say is the Orphee Suite for solo piano, then 3rd is Etudes, then 4th is Solo
Piano."
Philip Glass' Musical Score for 'The Hours' Distilled
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 03/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Returning to view the masterfully created cinematic production of Michael Cunningham's THE HOURS always leaves the reminder that much of the atmosphere that made the film work so well on every level was the musical score composed by Philip Glass. The soundtrack recording from the film remains for this listener a constant companion and now there is yet another extension of the eloquence of Glass' achievement.
Glass' longtime musical colleague is Michael Riesman, a gifted pianist as well as a composer who had the fine thought of distilling Glass' already minimalist score for piano solo. And in this recording Riesman performs his composer-sanctioned transcriptions with not only impeccable musical skill but also with the knowledge of both the Cunningham novel and the Virginia Woolf novel 'Mrs. Dalloway' on which it was based. The result is far more richly varied series of vignettes than most would have thought possible.
For those who are devotees of Philip Glass' compositions, from the very large symphonies and operas to the chamber ensemble and solo instrumental works, this series of piano transcriptions will prove rewarding. Reisman makes Glass' ideas crystalline, allowing us to hear the very subtle differences in the music he created for each character and each emotion.
For those less familiar with Philip Glass' music but very familiar with the film 'The Hours', this recording will provide an hour of nostalgia and clean swept elegance that can be heard at any moment (any hour!) of the day. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, March 07
"
Bravo, Mr. Riesman!
Brandon J. Seger | California | 03/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
""The Hours," aside from being a superb film, has the added bonus of being home to an amazing score by Philip Glass. The soundtrack to the movie was astounding with it's lovely, entrancing pieces. Now Michael Riesmen, who also did the piano sections for the original soundtrack, has released his own version of "The Hours" soundtrack, completely adapted to piano. All the other instruments, strings and the like, have been replaced by Riesman's piano--and the pieces remain just as amazing as they were on the original soundtrack. No drops in quality have occurred to any of the songs in regard to being adapted exclusively for piano. Riesman does a perfect job directly translating the original soundtrack all in piano. In fact, with the pieces now emanating from one instrument alone--and one so powerful as the piano--the pieces are now singularly profound in their composition. The piano alone, through Riesman's playing, does well to pull out the melody and texture of the pieces.
For anyone who is a fan of the original soundtrack, Riesman's piano rendition is essential."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1