In 1994, Philip Glass resolved to become a better pianist, setting to work on a series of short compositions that would help him hone his skills at the keyboard. Two decades in the making, his 20 exquisite etudes have recently been completed, standing as a record of one man s deeply personal relationship to his instrument and an embodiment of his evolving style. Orange Mountain Music is proud to announce the availability of The Complete Piano Etudes, a two-disc set covering both volumes of Glass piano etudes, 20 pieces in all. In addition to the first book (Etudes Nos.1-10) recorded anew with virtuoso Maki Namekawa, this set contains the world premiere recording of the second book of etudes (Nos.11-20) including the incredibly Romantic 20th Etudes. 125 minutes of music in total.
Philip Glass s big-ticket works, for the last 35 years, have been operas and symphonies, with works for the smaller, electronic keyboard-based chamber ensembles with which he made his name inevitably taking a back seat. But for many of Mr. Glass s most ardent fans, some of the composer s best, most harmonically inventive music is in his Piano Études. That collection of 20 works is about to take the spotlight, thanks to both a new recording by the pianist Maki Namekawa, and concerts at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Dec. 5 and 6, at which Mr. Glass, Ms. Namekawa and eight other pianists (among them, the composers Nico Muhly, Tania León and Timo Andres) will perform the full set. Mr. Glass began the Études in 1994, partly as a 50th birthday gift for the conductor and pianist Dennis Russell Davies, but mainly because Mr. Glass was playing solo piano recitals, and wanted material that would challenge his technique. The original five grew to 10, which Mr. Glass recorded for his own Orange Mountain Music label in 2003. A second set of 10 was promised. Mr. Glass took a decade to complete it. –Allan Kozinn – New York Times Arts Beat 20/10/2014
