Customer Reviews

Philip Glass : Music From "The Hours" Solo Piano

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first heard the original soundtrack to The Hours, I was struck by how familiar a lot of the sections sounded - not all of this music is new. However, a second listening made me feel that even if not all the music was originally composed for the soundtrack, it was nevertheless a truly fitting series of pieces that had a coherence and empathy with the themes of the film. Subsequent listenings have made this one of my favourite 21st century Glass recordings. I highly recommend it.

I don't feel that this recording offers any new insight to the music originally offered for the soundtrack, other than perhaps providing the hope of a piano transcription, and thus something that I, as an amateur pianist, can aspire to being able to play.

Mr Riesman is a fine pianist and his long standing relationship with Mr Glass is obvious in his treatment of the music. I am extremely impressed with his performance of the Tirol concerto CD which I received at the same time as this recording. However, the subtraction of an orchestra from what I also consider a piano concerto format can only put more pressure on the soloist, and results in something I feel lacks in emotion by trying to be too many instruments and textures at once.

Conclusion: Not essential listening. The original soundtrack recording is more emotionally resonant.

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.

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

"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.

I loved this soundtrack when I first heard it on the film and to hear it with solo piano--in it's most basic true form--is so fantastic. It has even more emotion simplified.

masterpiece from Philip Glass, it reflects all movie emotion since movie beginning until the end. You can go from calm and quiet short periods to an inevitable rush. A barely bearable anxiety.

this is one of the best CDs I've ever bought.

this music transports me.

sublime.

the movie is unique and amazing in it's own right. I say get both. life is short and these are the finer things.

fantastic price.

This is the first album of Philip Glass music I've ever purchased and it quickly found its way onto my "most played" list. Michael Riesman's soulful rendition of this soundtrack from THE HOURS has a timeless appeal that, unlike a lot of music, works both at the earliest part of the day as "inspiration music" and at the end of the day as "tired, reflection music." What's more, the piano solos beautifully use repetition, coming at you in waves that echo each other and speak to each other at the same time. I love to write by it, and have even brought it in to my classroom so the kids can write by it. After initial eye-rolling, a few have furtively asked for the music's title and composer. What higher compliment than that, when a 13-year-old is intrigued by Philip Glass?

Back in 2002, after the fall of the WTC, we watched this movie, and at no better time were we marked with movies to remember. Dancer in the Dark, Training Day, 21 Grams, Panic Room, Requiem for a Dream came before but still left its mark, and of course The Hours, beautiful with every genuine touch of its time periods. Not only was it beautiful for the words said, the people, the scenery, and the literary genius of Michael Cunningham but also for the music from Phillip Glass, which impacted the emotional undercurrents of not only watching it but remembering it. Highly recommended for novelists and screenwriters and people who need to study and not so much be entertained.

Let's get this part out of the way: Ghastly movie, beautiful music. One of Philip Glass's richest scores transcribed for piano and ready to be re-experienced on a different, core level. Glass has always been an acquired taste. If you enjoy his work, this is worth adding to the collection.