Glass: Violin Concerto No. 2 "The American Four Seasons"

Smashing the traditional into Glass

     

At first listen, you might think Glass was simply rehashing his favorite motifs and arpeggios but after several full listens in various moods, you've come to realize Glass is appreciably reinventing by abandoning the first concerto's rigid format. Movement I and II are lush soundscapes, constantly transitioning and growing while McDuffie's violin soars above with Glass' new take on melodic lines. Movement III and IV reference the old, fun energetic Glass introducing a few new ideas and certainly stretching the ability of the human ear. Traditional concepts and Baroque music play a huge role surprisingly since McDuffie requested the "old harpsichord Glass which turned David Bowie on." In a sense, its old Glass superimposed onto a massively arranged orchestral suite. The frenetic energy of the orchestra and McDuffie's harsh take on the pieces make for a somewhat difficult listen for the casual listener. Headphones will not suffice for a true listen. The Songs are rather uninteresting and the "Digital Booklet" is basically a PDF of the CD booklet. You can probably get away with purchasing I, III and IV, however Movement II refreshingly references his matured film-scoring abilities.