Track Listing

1. J. S. Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring from " Herz und Mund und Tar und Leben" BWV 147
2. J. S. Bach: Presto from Italian Concerto
3. Montero: Beyond Bach
4. J. S. Bach: Air in G - Orchestral Suite #3 BWV 1068
5. J. S. Bach: Aria from Goldberg Variations BWV 988
6. J. S. Bach: Adagio from Violin Concerto No. 2 in E BWV 1042
7. J. S. Bach: Prelude in C BWV 846 from Well Tempered Clavier Book 1
8. J. S. Bach: Sheep May Safely Graze from Hunt Cantata BWV 208
9. J. S. Bach: Two-Part Invention in D Minor BWV 775
10. J. S. Bach: Allegro from Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G BWV 1048
11. J. S. Bach: Adagio from Keyboard Concerto in D Minor BWV 974
12. J. S. Bach: Tocatta in D Minor BWV 565

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4435 in Music
• Released on: 2006-09-12
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Taking as her base 12 works of Bach, Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero proceeds to play variations on each. The works are familiar and most Classical fans will recognize their melodies instantly. But Montero, who is closer to a jazz improvisationalist than a classical pianist merely embellishing, alters rhythm as well as melody, and the results are invariably both surprising and delightful. The Presto from the Italian Concerto is positively wacky, but "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" sticks to the piece's mood with truth and originality. Montero plays "beyond" Bach with good taste and respect, and always with intense musicality. The results may seem improvised, but I doubt they are---they seem to well worked through---but that is more of a plus than a minus. You'll revel in hearing old favorites "interpreted" and find some unexpected pleasures here. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews

Back to Bach, Please.
I wasn't as over-joyed with this CD as I expected to be. I bought it after hearing the title track on FM radio. The title track is, indeed, a jewel; the rest is, in my view, only high-grade "background" music.The pianist is a marvel (and a beauty, too!) - her popularity is easily understandable. She possesses a remarkable gift for transposing and transcribing classic keyboard to "swing" keyboard. Many Bach purists (this one, for example) don't appreciate that, even though we have to admit that a lot of Bach swings, anyway, without transcribing. Lsten to tracks 3 and 4 and you will get your money's worth - they're worth the price.

Fantastic improv
I heard Gabriela on the public radio station where she asked the host to pick a tune and she would improvise on it. He chose the theme song of the program and she just took off with it for several minutes. She also played one of the songs on the cd which impressed me enough to buy it. The choice of songs and the way she plays them is a dynamic mix ranging from an ethereal adagio to the fun and funky Two-Part Invention in D minor. Never a dull moment, Gabriela is a superbly talented pianist who doesn't disappoint in spicing up some timeless classics.

Beautiful. Fresh. Spiritual. Music as pure as you ever heard before.
This is a true masterpiece. The artist takes themes from Bach and transforms them in trully original compositions, beeing hard to beleive they are improvisations. They are never boring, always beautiful. She takes one or several Bach themes, puts to work her classical backround, adds some jazz and south american rythms, and comes up with some of the most moving and inspirational music I ever heard. Bravo for Gabriela, this CD is a must for every music lover, classical or not.