Track Listings (12) - Disc #1| All Artists: Johann Sebastian Bach, Unspecified, Gabriela Montero Title: Bach & Beyond - Gabriela Montero Members Wishing: 0 Total Copies: 0 Label: EMI Classics Original Release Date: 1/1/2006 Re-Release Date: 9/12/2006 Genres: Special Interest, Classical Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Forms & Genres, Concertos, Improvisation, Suites, Historical Periods, Baroque (c.1600-1750), Instruments, Strings, Symphonies Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC: 094636464725 |
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Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Unspecified, Gabriela Montero :: Bach & Beyond - Gabriela Montero
 | Johann Sebastian Bach, Unspecified, Gabriela Montero Bach & Beyond - Gabriela Montero Genres: Special Interest, Classical
Taking as her base 12 works of Bach, Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero proceeds to play variations on each. The works are familiar and most Classical fans will recognize their melodies instantly. But Montero, who is clos... more » |
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Amazon.com Taking as her base 12 works of Bach, Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero proceeds to play variations on each. The works are familiar and most Classical fans will recognize their melodies instantly. But Montero, who is closer to a jazz improvisationalist than a classical pianist merely embellishing, alters rhythm as well as melody, and the results are invariably both surprising and delightful. The Presto from the Italian Concerto is positively wacky, but "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" sticks to the piece's mood with truth and originality. Montero plays "beyond" Bach with good taste and respect, and always with intense musicality. The results may seem improvised, but I doubt they are---they seem to well worked through---but that is more of a plus than a minus. You'll revel in hearing old favorites "interpreted" and find some unexpected pleasures here. --Robert Levine Similarly Requested CDs
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CD ReviewsBach, Mozart and Beethoven Would Be Delighted... Edward R. Kriege | Chicago, IL USA | 09/20/2006 (5 out of 5 stars) "It's an often neglected fact that Bach, Mozart and Beethoven were master improvisers, and I often wonder how they would feel about 'classical music' having become so exclusively addicted to reproducing the notes on the page. It seems that the latter of the three important legs of a musician's stool -- technique, interpretation, and improvisation -- has been forgotten in lieu of endless variation on the former two legs. Efforts like Ms. Montero's (e.g. Walter/Wendy Carlos' S-OB, Corea/McFerrin's Mozart Sessions, Keith Jarrett) seem generally received by the cognoscenti as a bit of an oddity, falling outside established parameters of classification. But to the degree that music should incorporate spontaneity, Ms. Montero's prodigious talent shines a bright light in a dark corner of a musical genre in desperate need of being revitalized. This is a wonderful effort not to be missed -- musician or music lover should delight -- as I believe the Masters would -- at spontaneous creativity being breathed into these masterworks." Bring on Gabriela and more Improvisations! Brian Steen | Palo Atlo, CA United States | 11/13/2006 (5 out of 5 stars) " This CD is the best one of the year for me. I've been singing Bach's choral music for 40 years. I never tire of the 'ol guy's works; they've become part of my soul and brain. Hearing Gabriela's amazing improvisations, makes them dance anew in totally "right" ways. Try sitting still during Track 9 Two Part Invention in D Minor. I can't! Bach to a Latin beat...just love it. You'll feel that track and all the others move you right up and past Bach's originals. I was incredulous saying, "Who's THAT?!" Can wait to see her in concert. " True improvisations -- a wonder! P. Pederson | Portland, OR USA | 10/16/2006 (5 out of 5 stars) "I struggle for the words to express how thrilled I am. Ms Montero is resurrecting the art of spontaneous improvisation in the field of classical music. Robert Levine, the Amazon site reviewer, hopefully has listened to the NPR interviews or the podcast and is now aware that Ms Montero did indeed improvise these on the spot. The only preparation lies in the fact that Gabriela Montero has been playing in this spontaneous way since before she was 3 years old! She was given a toy piano when she was 7 months and soon started picking out the songs her mother sang her to sleep with. Her talent today truly is astonishing! Give her a tune or theme never heard before, and she magically weaves a new piece out of it. We have read of Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Gershwin all doing this -- it's a wonder and a fresh delight to hear how marvellously she does it for us. Kudos!"
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