American pianist Simone Dinnerstein presents two works by Philip Glass with her string ensemble Baroklyn, ahead of the composer's 90th birthday celebrations. The group's name reflects a blend of her Brooklyn roots and the baroque sensibilities of JS Bach. Their approach to Glass's minimalist music is refreshingly organic, aiming to emulate the passage of time like sand through an hourglass rather than chopping the music into rigid segments.
Suite from The Hours
Arranged by Michael Riesman, the Suite from The Hours transforms Glass's film score into an almost symphonic three-movement work. The story's pain and poetry are encapsulated in an immersive score for piano, strings, harp, and celesta. Dinnerstein raises the emotional stakes by adopting considerably slower tempi than the movie soundtrack, allowing the music to breathe and resonate deeply.
Tirol Concerto
The Tirol Concerto from 2000, Glass's first piano concerto, features Bach-like clarity in the crisply energetic outer movements. However, the central elegy stands out as the jewel. Dinnerstein notes, "Every repetition is a reaction to the one before and an anticipation of one to come," a philosophy that infuses these interpretations with life and nuance.
The album Hourglass is a testament to the power of organic interpretation, revitalizing Glass's modern minimalist masterpieces with emotional depth and fresh perspective.
