Philip Glass; Steve Reich Music 4 Hands [Import]

Philip Glass (Artist), Steve Reich; Philip Glass (Composer), Dennis Russell Davies (piano); Maki Namakawa (piano) (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Dennis Russell Davies (piano); Maki Namakawa (piano)
• Composer: Steve Reich; Philip Glass
• Audio CD (October 11, 2005)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Orange Mountain Music
• ASIN: B000BIT9XK
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,038 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The Orange Mountain Music release "Music 4 Hands" is a collection of new recordings on dual pianos performed by Dennis Russell Davies and Maki Namekawa. The compositions are "Six Scenes from Les Enfants Terribles" for two pianos based on the original opera by Philip Glass as well as a Steve Reich’s "Piano Phase". "Music 4 Hands" debuts these new arrangements by Dennis Russell Davies and Maki Namekawa.

Philip and Steve Reich were leaders of a new music revolution in New York City in the 1960´s and 70´s that included Terry Riley, Lamonte Young, and Meredith Monk. In the years since then their careers and music have greatly diverged, and it is rewarding to find a new record that celebrates them both.

Maki Namekawa is one of the young musicians who is introducing new works into the mainstream of German concert activity. As a soloist and a chamber musician equally at home in classical music and contemporary repertoire, Ms. Namekawa appears regularly at major concert venues in Japan and Europe.

Dennis Russell Davies is the chief conductor of the Bruckner Orchestra Linz and the Landestheater Linz, as well as chief conductor of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra. His range of activities include conductor, pianist, and chamber musician. All Davies’ talents are characterized by a very broad repertoire ranging from Baroque to very modern, all with an intense commitment to the composers of our time.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ADORE IT!, April 22, 2006

By 

Milan Simich - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Philip Glass; Steve Reich Music 4 Hands (Audio CD)

I LOVE the opera recording, so I was afraid that the 2 piano arrangement might be a little too sparse...but I ADORE this version. All the inner voices of Glass' music are brought out and in the end, just like with the opera, I am very moved. Glass is a Romatic at heart, and this version like the opera recording shows it. .

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great CD, February 1, 2006

By 

R. Guerin (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Philip Glass; Steve Reich Music 4 Hands (Audio CD)

I disagree with the previous reviewers comments in that there are NO STRINGS on this CD.
It features two seminal works by two important composers of our day: Philip Glass and Steve Reich.
This recording of Reich's Piano Phase is poignant! The performances are flawless and the recording is wonderful.

The transcription of a suite of instrumental music from Glass' LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES is wonderful. Davies and Namekawa, the pianists, have made an effective transcription of the original 3 piano-part Glass opera, to 2 piano/4 hand instrumental suite.
It's really wonderful, especially the Sleepwalking music.

Just FANTASTIC!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glass on piano is always good, November 27, 2005

By 

Roland (Idaho) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Philip Glass; Steve Reich Music 4 Hands (Audio CD)

If you like Philip Glass and the sound of pure piano then this recording is worth listening to - its that simple. Davies is a well known conductor and pianist in most classical music circles, and he plays with the central pianist in his own orchestra - so they both understand each other very well.
This makes the dual piano approach work out in the end, and Reichs piano phase gets the treatment it demands and frankly deserves.