Search - John Lennon/Paul McCartney, Unspecified, Toru Takemitsu :: Transformations [Hybrid SACD]

Gentle on the psyche

William N. Gross | Berkeley, CA USA | 05/16/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"January 2010-I wanted to add one more note on this CD; when my mother died in November of 2009, this CD was the first music I listened to afterward. The title "Transformations" took on greater meaning for me at that point. I understood the sweetness of even one moment of life, the emotional complexity of human existence and the power of music. This CD seems to me an invocation; live simply, live thoughtfully, consider every stroke, every emotion. Discovery takes time. Like a Dickens novel however, it seems to state complexity and simplicity together in a breath..."It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us..."

This collection is unpretentious. I think at first I underestimated how much the music and the artist could convey. On closer examination, the Theodorakis pieces directly confront the death of a loved one, "Hey Jude" was written as a reminder to persevere through life's difficulties and "All in Twilight" is open to interpretation at many levels.

Three years after purchasing it, I'm still listening to this CD which never seems to run out of things to say. Kaori Muraji is able to delve into the psyche with great insight and ability. She seems totally open to the world, both what can be seen and what shimmers beyond the periphery.



This portion of the review was written in early 2009:

I'm going to leave my original review intact below, but I've been listening to this CD a lot lately and I'd like to comment further:

I'm very impressed by the versions of the Theodorakis pieces on this CD. I've only previously heard them on "The Guitarist" by John Williams. These versions are slower, there is more distinction between the bass and melody parts. I've come to love Kaori Muraji's interpretations of these pieces more and more. Its interesting to compare them with Williams' version, but they stand on their own and demonstrate why there is no one BEST guitarist in the world, but many extremely talented interpreters from all over the world.

I've also developed a greater appreciation of the Takemetsu arrangements. Muraji has deepened my knowledge of this important arranger and composer; that is what this CD is ultimately about.

I gave 4 stars but don't let that dissuade you from purchasing "Transformations." As I stated, I really prefer more dramatic works, but this is a beautiful CD and technically one of the best recordings I've heard, even without a SACD machine.

Muraji has a remarkable conception of how the guitar should be played. You won't find a crisper performance; every note is precise and still full of feeling.



This was my original review (written in the summer of 07):

I keep this CD at work, and my office-mates request it more than any other CD on my desk. The amount of familiar tunes in this collection makes it accessible to everybody. Each piece is performed with grace; it will compliment the more esoteric guitar music in anyone's collection. Kaori Muraji lets each piece unfold like a soft summer night. This album is paced throughout so that it plays gently, and quietly maintains momentum. It makes for very enjoyable listening. Muraji can be a dynamic player. Live, she is very in the moment; typically you can see the music moving through her body and the mood of the music on her face. Always there is a serenity to her. You'll feel it on this CD as well. There are some beautiful treatments of Theodorakis and Takemitsu, but it was also nice to hear a pop tune like "The Last Waltz."

Even though my tastes tend towards more dramatic performances (works by The Assad Brothers or Yang Xue Fei), I've really enjoyed this collection. It would make a good gift item both for the serious guitarist (Muraji's technique and interpretations are impeccable) or the casual listener. Your mother would love to get this CD, especially if she's a guitarist. Show her you love her and give her a copy."