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: #24501 in Music
• Released on: 2006-09-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

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

Bach, Mozart and Beethoven Would Be Delighted...
It's an often neglected fact that Bach, Mozart and Beethoven were master improvisers, and I often wonder how they would feel about 'classical music' having become so exclusively addicted to reproducing the notes on the page. It seems that the latter of the three important legs of a musician's stool -- technique, interpretation, and improvisation -- has been forgotten in lieu of endless variation on the former two legs.

Efforts like Ms. Montero's (e.g. Walter/Wendy Carlos' S-OB, Corea/McFerrin's Mozart Sessions, Keith Jarrett) seem generally received by the cognoscenti as a bit of an oddity, falling outside established parameters of classification. But to the degree that music should incorporate spontaneity, Ms. Montero's prodigious talent shines a bright light in a dark corner of a musical genre in desperate need of being revitalized. This is a wonderful effort not to be missed -- musician or music lover should delight -- as I believe the Masters would -- at spontaneous creativity being breathed into these masterworks.

True improvisations -- a wonder!
I struggle for the words to express how thrilled I am. Ms Montero is resurrecting the art of spontaneous improvisation in the field of classical music. Robert Levine, the Amazon site reviewer, hopefully has listened to the NPR interviews or the podcast and is now aware that Ms Montero did indeed improvise these on the spot. The only preparation lies in the fact that Gabriela Montero has been playing in this spontaneous way since before she was 3 years old! She was given a toy piano when she was 7 months and soon started picking out the songs her mother sang her to sleep with. Her talent today truly is astonishing! Give her a tune or theme never heard before, and she magically weaves a new piece out of it. We have read of Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Gershwin all doing this -- it's a wonder and a fresh delight to hear how marvellously she does it for us. Kudos!

Excellent improvisations amazing talent
Congratulations to Gabriela Montero for develop a great experience and enjoy on some Bach themes, excellent fluid improvisations. Not only an Excellent Piano player but a great musician Gabriela is. I think we like to hear more new music creations than more interpretations. I hope to enjoy more music creations like this CD from Montero and from others with this amazing talent.