Key Early Works By Glass, Unplugged
Occidental Guest | New Jersey, USA | 03/18/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First, the performances: Alter Ego has changed the instrumentation of such early Glass masterpieces as "Contrary Motion" from analogue keyboards and amplified winds, to a more traditional, unplugged acoustic arrangment. In addition, the ensemble plays the pieces with a softer, less angular rhythmic attack than on the classic recordings. These two factors make the pieces warmer and more accessible; but purists will probably still prefer the electric and more bracing sound of the classic recordings. The playing on all the works is superb, but it must be noted that the sonic texture of these performances is quite different in feel from the classic recordings. (Compare the almost lilting, classical violin performance of "Strung Out" on this recording to the hard-edged, much longer, amplified electric violin recording on CP2 records.) So cheers to Alter Ego for bringing some new works to the public in their first performances ever ("Music in the Shape of a Square", "How Now", and "600 Lines"); but by all means seek out the original recordings of the other works to compare and contrast with the presentation here.
Second, a comment on the Orange Mountain label: the works on this disc are reissues of two CDs originally put out on the Italian Stradivarius label, so the Orange Mountain Label deserves credit for re-releasing them so they can find a wider audience. Still, while the label has made public several critical Glass works, it continues to release too many minor Glass works (like the "Undertow" soundtrack, "Orion") to the detriment of much more important unreleased works like Glass's Doris Lessing-based operas,Robert Wilson collaborations like "Monsters of Grace" and "White Raven"; and many more of his still unreleased early works (most prominently, the music he wrote over a ten year period for the Mabou Mines.)"
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1