Glass Cage / Brubaker

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Though he may not be a piano superstar, Bruce Brubaker is clearly a musician to watch. On this recording of solo piano works by Philip Glass and John Cage, Brubaker somehow shifts between these two very different modernist composers to create a seamless disc of mesmerizing keyboard music. While Glass's own playing is often precise and austere, Brubaker is a different beast altogether. With him, we get a hint of Impressionism and a sense of contemplation with each note. The five parts of Metamorphosis are given shades of melancholy, along with frenzy; on the expansive "Mad Rush," Brubaker goes wild where he has to, but always returns to the piece's calming, sweet center. The piano music of John Cage is limited to just two cuts--"A Room" and "Dream"--but they, too, are hauntingly beautiful (especially the latter, longer piece). For anyone who has grown tired of Philip Glass's recent electronic keyboard forays or the ubiquitous prepared-piano CDs of John Cage, Glass Cage will sound like a fresh and sublime homecoming to two musical mavericks. Recommended. --Jason Verlinde

Tracks:

Act 3, Conclusion: Satyagraha
She Is Asleep: A Room
Metamorphosis One
Metamorphosis Two
Metamorphosis Three
Metamorphosis Four
Metamorphosis Five
Dream
Mad Rush

Amazon.com

Though he may not be a piano superstar, Bruce Brubaker is clearly a musician to watch. On this recording of solo piano works by Philip Glass and John Cage, Brubaker somehow shifts between these two very different modernist composers to create a seamless disc of mesmerizing keyboard music. While Glass's own playing is often precise and austere, Brubaker is a different beast altogether. With him, we get a hint of Impressionism and a sense of contemplation with each note. The five parts of Metamorphosis are given shades of melancholy, along with frenzy; on the expansive "Mad Rush," Brubaker goes wild where he has to, but always returns to the piece's calming, sweet center. The piano music of John Cage is limited to just two cuts--"A Room" and "Dream"--but they, too, are hauntingly beautiful (especially the latter, longer piece). For anyone who has grown tired of Philip Glass's recent electronic keyboard forays or the ubiquitous prepared-piano CDs of John Cage, Glass Cage will sound like a fresh and sublime homecoming to two musical mavericks. Recommended. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

glass at his most subtle.......2005-01-21

Brubaker really understands and enjoys the music he's working with here. His playing is cerebral, thoughtful yet emotional. One gets the sense that this selection reflects his personal taste. The Metamorphoses also appear on Glass's "Solo Piano" album, played by the composer himself. There they are mesmerising, but formal, structural, harsh. Brubaker lets the pieces breathe, finding individual character in each one of the five.

"Mad Rush" has a suitable wash of sound feeling, but the real standout is the "Satyagraha" excerpt. This long, unadorned piece has a beautiful, solid rythmic line that builds logically, linking each evolving section. It gives a kind of slow, ritual or martial feel to the act.

The Cage pieces are more challengingly unmelodic; I honestly seldom listen to them (though I do love some Cage music). The attraction of this cd is to hear Glass anew through a sensitive interpreter.

(Warning: the sound is not mixed for a rock audience, like many Glass cds. I find I need to turn up the volume on my system whenever I put this on, but there's little distortion).

buy this cd!.......2002-01-13

This is one of most intensely beautiful performances of Philip Glass's work I've ever heard (and I've heard a lot). It's unbelievable to me that this recording isn't better known.

Captivating Performance by Tremendous Pianist.......2001-08-29

I was immensely lucky to have had Mr. Brubaker's intro to music class at the City University of New York in the mid 90s. He is an outstanding performer, and this disc will not disappoint (even if you are not a great fan of Cage's music). Highly recommended. Nice going, Bruce!

Recommended - with one caveat.......2000-10-19

This is a very rewarding disc. The Glass/Cage compilation shares the same kind of mesmerizing, meditative continuity as I find on the ECM discs of Arvo Part. I had not been familiar with Bruce Brubaker before this performance. By all accounts, he acquits himself well. I do not own the Glass piano pieces by the composer, so I cannot compare the performances. However, Brubaker held my attention completely for the full 63 minutes. The Arabesque label has produced many fine, adventuresome discs in the past and this adds to the list. Here's hoping they continue programming music that's off the beaten path.

My only caveat with this effort has to do with the recording. It seems, to my ears, rather closely miked. The first track jolted me a bit - if felt as if we were right on top of the piano. While your ears eventually adjust, I would have preferred a more distant perspective. I think this kind of minimalist music can benefit from a more distant recording perspecitve as it can add to the meditative quality. On the positive side, the recording is quite clean and crisp. Overall, I think listeners who are attracted to Cage, Glass, or Part will like what they hear.

Who said minimalism was not interpretable ?.......2000-10-18

I disliked Glass' piano music. The Solo Piano CD was dull, boring, unimaginative. Glass was hammering on the piano instead of playing (hey - this is a piano, not a Farfisa). This wonderful CD changes it all: Brubaker plays the Glass pieces with emotion & tenderness without loosing the accuracy of the pieces or running amok with wild interpretations (as was the case of the Italian pianist whose name skipped my mind. Arthuro something). Any Glass fan - buy this CD, close the lights, pour yourself a semi-strong drink, sit back and relax, hit play on the remote. The Cage pieces are nice (I have no acquaintance with other performances, so I can't really say anything else). Great job Brubaker - any plans for conducting?

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