Music for a Glass Bead Game

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Tommaso Giordani (Composer), George Frederick Handel (Composer), Zoltan Kodaly (Composer), Bohuslav Martinu (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Tommaso Giordani, George Frederick Handel, Zoltan Kodaly, Bohuslav Martinu
• Audio CD (October 7, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: John Marks Records
• ASIN: B000003Y9F
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #247,313 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 1 in C major, BWV 772 (BC L42)

2. Duo for violin & cello, Op. 7: 1. Allegro Serioso, Non Troppo

3. Duo for violin & cello, Op. 7: 2. Adagio - Andante

4. Duo for violin & cello, Op. 7: 3. Maestoso E Largamente, Ma Non Troppo Lento - Presto

5. Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 7 in E minor, BWV 778 (BC L48)

6. Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 13 in A minor, BWV 784 (BC L54)

7. Duetto II, for violin & cello: Allegro moderato

8. Duetto II, for violin & cello: Tempo di Minuetto

9. Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 9 in F minor, BWV 780 (BC L50)

10. Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 10 in G major, BWV 781 (BC L51)

11. Duo for violin & cello No. 1, H. 157: Preludium: Andante moderato

12. Duo for violin & cello No. 1, H. 157: Rondo: Allegro con brio

13. Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 6 in E major, BWV 777 (BC L47)

14. Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 3 in D major, BWV 774 (BC L44)

15. Suite for keyboard (Suite de piece), Vol.1, No.7 in G minor, HWV 432: Passacaglia

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The novels of Hermann Hesse have always been contemplative, coming-of-age affairs, but in his post-apocalyptic novel, The Glass Bead Game, the arts, philosophy, and science collide head-on to create an enthralling, thought-provoking read. From this enlightened springboard, we have Music for a Glass Bead Game, a collection of music that is a fitting synthesis of the game described in the book (an intellectual exercise in which one idea elaborates off another). Bach's Inventions--mentioned in the book--are spread throughout the disc, but they hardly steal the show. Instead, they provide an interesting contrast with lesser-heard works for violin and cello. Kodály's Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7, is gorgeous, expressive, and filled with folksy touches. Cellist Nathaniel Rosen and violinist Arturo Delmoni deliver stirring performances with plenty of grace and delicacy, working as equal and sympathetic partners. On Martinu's Duo for Violin and Cello and Handel's Passacaglia, they similarly shine. Special nods go to John Marks Records for their impeccable recording of this pair. A disc featuring some of these works performed by Nigel Kennedy and Lynn Harrell is available, but--sonically and musically--it can't compete with this sensitive and unique recording. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic and Modern Duos for Violin and Cello., February 11, 1999

By 

Paul Geffen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music for a Glass Bead Game (Audio CD)

This recording brings together two important twentieth-century duos for violin and cello. For variety and contrast, they are presented with shorter baroque and classical works arranged for violin and cello. The result is a fascinating and delightful program.

Kodaly is neither Romantic not Modern; he is sui generis, in a class by himself. His roots run deep into the Hungarian folk tradition, which he studied and championed and then distilled into a very refined personal style. His sound is sometimes similar to that of his countryman Bartok, but I find it more lyrical, introspective, and subtle. It's deceptively simple on the surface, but this economy transmits musical expression of great depth.

Delmoni and Rosen play the Kodaly Duo passionately and with a rich, resonant tone. The Adagio is searching, mysterious and dark, and it is given a sympathetic reading here. Overall, this performance is very smooth and polished, with moderate tempos and very clean intonation and articulation. This is in contrast to the more astringent tone adopted by Josef Suk in his live performance with Andre Navarra on Praga, a more typical East European sound. Delmoni and Rosen sound restrained by comparison, but they are just as expressive in a different and less direct way.

The Martinu Duo is a short and powerful piece with some very effective contrasts between the two movements. The first is eerie, spooky, even creepy, but with counterpoint as precise as that of Bach. It is dissonant and tightly organized to great effect. The second movement shares the sense of precision but has a very different feeling; made up mostly of fast runs, it is lighter, even amusing. And the time signature keeps changing. In the middle of this mad Rondo is a short passage where the mood of the Prelude returns, briefly, while the rest of the movement runs rings around it. (My interpretation of the work is as a quasi-religious dyptich of ominous death balanced by exuberant life. And always in the midst of life, the spectre is with us.)

Delmoni's brilliant passagework and Rosen's earthy tones are well suited to putting across the various moods of this piece.

Tommaso Giordani wrote operas and songs and was based in London and Dublin for the better part of his career. His Duetto is a pleasant, if somewhat predictable, collection of early Classical figures and gestures.

No transcription is credited for the Bach Inventions, and I have no doubt they are played straight from the keyboard score. Alongside the bright, inventive pieces described above, the Bach seems somehow dull, and perhaps they are played this way deliberately. The Inventions are included to provide contrast to the Kodaly and Martinu works. After hearing Bach we are more aware of the freedoms these later masters enjoy. The Bach pieces are taken very seriously indeed.

The recital ends with a Handel passacaglia, a brilliant set of variations taken from one of the Suites for keyboard. All the contrasts presented in the rest of the program are summed up here, all the colors and moods are repeated in miniature, bringing the hour to a suitable close.

The recording and production are excellent, as always from this label. The sound of the performance is captured in a natural ambience, somewhat reverberant, with a very lifelike presence.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chamber music with attitude, September 19, 2002

By 

C. Dowling "cod" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Music for a Glass Bead Game (Audio CD)

I've owned this cd for almost 2 years and return to it regularly when I'm in the mood for a bit of attitude from a couple of string players... The playing is top notch and the recording quality is excellent. (For the audiophile, the instruments are very "real sounding"). The selections are inspired, I love the spaning of era's and all the pieces "work" in sequence (a tough task to accomplish with music from various composers). This disc has also introduced me to a new favorite composer; Kodaly.

This is simply a wonderful disc musically, artisticly and in terms of sound quality. A rare treat.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Violin for audiophiles, September 5, 2002

By 

Rick Becker, equipment reviewer, (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Music for a Glass Bead Game (Audio CD)

I am not a violin lover, but I asked John Marks to recommend a CD or two to use for equipment reviewing purposes. Glass Bead Game was one of them. The recording is not only excellent in audio quality, but the music itself in incredibly intriguing.
A compilation of short works, the CD is not your typical violin concerto, but a series of unpredictable pieces that hang together in a very involving way. I find myself listening to it over and over again during breakfast as well as after dinner.

Not only is Arturo's playing flawless...as best my untrained ear can tell...but the texture of the notes is extremely involving on my high resolution system. I didn't expect to be so delighted with it, but I am. Thank you very much, Mr. Marks.
Excellent recommendation!!