George GERSHWIN
Piano Music - Remembrance and Discovery Vol. 2
Richard Glazier (piano)
CENTAUR CRC 2486
[63:31]
Crotchet
AmazonUK AmazonUS
Richard Glazier admits to a lifelong passion for the music of George Gershwin
and tells us, in his lucid booklet notes, that he met, when he was twelve
years old, the composer's brother and lyricist, Ira Gershwin who greatly
inspired him. His love and dedication to the music of Gershwin is apparent
in every bar of these interpretations of some of the best loved melodies
of the 20th century and in the piano version of Rhapsody in Blue.
Glazier plays a number of transcriptions of the songs including a rare paraphrase
of 'Soon' from Strike Up the Band by Maurice C. Whitney that
remains faithful to the tune while creating new textures, inner voices and
harmonies reminiscent of Rachmaninov's piano music; and arrangements for
piano by Stan Freeman of 'But Not for Me',' Someone to Watch Over Me' and
'Who Cares'. Other melodies played include: 'I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise';
'Rialto Ripples'; 'For You for Me Forever More'; and 'Love is Here to Stay.'
Glazier's reading of the piano version of Rhapsody in Blue is big-boned and
Romantic and perfectly satisfactory as a listening experience without the
usual orchestral backup.
In his notes he pays tribute to the Oscar Levant performance of the Rhapsody
that introduced him to the music of Gershwin
Ian Lace
