Glass Cage: Music for Piano by Philip Glass & John Cage

Bruce Brubaker (Artist), Philip Glass (Composer), John Cage (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Philip Glass, John Cage
• Audio CD (October 10, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arabesque Recordings
• ASIN: B00004X0MF
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,546 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though he may not be a piano superstar, Bruce Brubaker is clearly a musician to watch. On this recording of solo piano works by Philip Glass and John Cage, Brubaker somehow shifts between these two very different modernist composers to create a seamless disc of mesmerizing keyboard music. While Glass's own playing is often precise and austere, Brubaker is a different beast altogether. With him, we get a hint of Impressionism and a sense of contemplation with each note. The five parts of Metamorphosis are given shades of melancholy, along with frenzy; on the expansive "Mad Rush," Brubaker goes wild where he has to, but always returns to the piece's calming, sweet center. The piano music of John Cage is limited to just two cuts--"A Room" and "Dream"--but they, too, are hauntingly beautiful (especially the latter, longer piece). For anyone who has grown tired of Philip Glass's recent electronic keyboard forays or the ubiquitous prepared-piano CDs of John Cage, Glass Cage will sound like a fresh and sublime homecoming to two musical mavericks. Recommended. --Jason Verlinde

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended - with one caveat October 18, 2000

By scott mathews

Format:Audio CD

This is a very rewarding disc. The Glass/Cage compilation shares the same kind of mesmerizing, meditative continuity as I find on the ECM discs of Arvo Part. I had not been familiar with Bruce Brubaker before this performance. By all accounts, he acquits himself well. I do not own the Glass piano pieces by the composer, so I cannot compare the performances. However, Brubaker held my attention completely for the full 63 minutes. The Arabesque label has produced many fine, adventuresome discs in the past and this adds to the list. Here's hoping they continue programming music that's off the beaten path.

My only caveat with this effort has to do with the recording. It seems, to my ears, rather closely miked. The first track jolted me a bit - if felt as if we were right on top of the piano. While your ears eventually adjust, I would have preferred a more distant perspective. I think this kind of minimalist music can benefit from a more distant recording perspecitve as it can add to the meditative quality. On the positive side, the recording is quite clean and crisp. Overall, I think listeners who are attracted to Cage, Glass, or Part will like what they hear.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Who said minimalism was not interpretable ? October 18, 2000

By "aloni"

Format:Audio CD

I disliked Glass' piano music. The Solo Piano CD was dull, boring, unimaginative. Glass was hammering on the piano instead of playing (hey - this is a piano, not a Farfisa). This wonderful CD changes it all: Brubaker plays the Glass pieces with emotion & tenderness without loosing the accuracy of the pieces or running amok with wild interpretations (as was the case of the Italian pianist whose name skipped my mind. Arthuro something). Any Glass fan - buy this CD, close the lights, pour yourself a semi-strong drink, sit back and relax, hit play on the remote. The Cage pieces are nice (I have no acquaintance with other performances, so I can't really say anything else). Great job Brubaker - any plans for conducting?

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars buy this cd! January 12, 2002

By "baselnovo"

Format:Audio CD

This is one of most intensely beautiful performances of Philip Glass's work I've ever heard (and I've heard a lot). It's unbelievable to me that this recording isn't better known.