Search - Pius Cheung :: Goldberg Variations - J.S. Bach (arr. for solo marimba)

Quite a lovely version of the Goldbergs

P. Shipman | State College, PA USA | 09/22/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I very much enjoyed these performances on Bach on the marimba. It is mellow, haunting, lovely."

Amazing!

Timothy R. Carpenter | Philadelphia, PA | 06/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not only is this amazing, but it is musically satisfying. I must confess to having an addiction to the Goldberg Variations; I have many performances of this work on harpsichord and piano and have begun listening to it in transcription. I am fascinated by the choices performers make and how those choices reveal to me a different facet of these remarkable variations. Not that I keep every performance that I buy. I have given away, not only several on harpsichord or piano, but a sleep inducing performance by string trio, a screeching woodwind version and a ponderous one on organ.

This performance on marimba wears well. Some of the ornaments have had to be modified and some bass lines moved up an octave, but it is - overall - faithful to the original. Tempos are generally slower than keyboard performances and few repeats are taken. The sound of the instrument gives it an otherworldly aura. Mr. Cheung is a virtuoso on his instrument. He is a graduate of The Curtis Institute and a superb musician. Recommended!"

Why? But then, Why Not? ...

Giordano Bruno | Wherever I am, I am. | 05/06/2010

(1 out of 5 stars)

"... as long as you do it for your own satisfaction in your basement or garage? But in public? on a CD?



Is there ever any reason whatsoever for performing Bach, especially the sublime Goldberg Variations, in any manner that Bach himself couldn't have, wouldn't have? As if Bach, the most deliberate of all composers, didn't have exactly a certain sound in mind when he composed? I've been playing with that question lately, listening to various pianists, accordionists, electric guitarists, whistlers and yodelers render 'tribute' to Bach by distorting his music to their various sensibilities. I've been guilty myself, playing the solo cello suites on bassoon and tenor sax, but only in my back yard.



This heartfelt performance of the Goldbergs on marimba is painful. You can hear the samples. To my ears, it's no more painful than performances by pianists I respect, or pianists I detest.



Want a recommendation? Fabio Bonizzoni, on Bach's own choice of instruments, the harpsichord."