Glassforms

Musicians have often paid homage to their heroes by transforming and modifying their music for new ages and new audiences. Composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote accompaniments for J.S. Bach’s solo violin works; Mozart re-orchestrated Handel’s Messiah. In the same vein, electronic artist Max Cooper and pianist Bruce Brubaker bring thrilling digital effects to Philip Glass’ piano music. By taking data directly from Brubaker’s playing, Cooper adds sounds and melodies that radiate through Glass’ music, refracting it as if through a sonic prism. “Two Pages” seethes and fizzes anew, “Mad Rush” erupts in shards of dazzling chaos, while a deep, resonating synth bass shakes “The Poet Acts” at its core. Five specially written preludes seamlessly knit together this gloriously inventive album.