Finnissy: Gershwin Arrangements, More Gershwin

On this CD:

1. How Long Has This Been Going On? (from Rosalie, musical)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

2. Things are looking up
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

3. A Foggy Day (in London Town), song (from film A Damsel in Distress)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

4. Love Is Here To Stay, song (from The Goldwyn Follies, film)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

5. They Can't Take That Away From Me (for the film Shall We Dance)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

6. Shall We Dance?, film score
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

7. But Not For Me, song (from Girl Crazy, musical)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

8. Fidgety Feet, song (from musical Oh, Kay!)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

9. Embraceable You, song (from Girl Crazy, musical)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

10. Waiting for the sun to come out
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

11. Our Nell, musical Innocent Ingenue Baby
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

12. Blah, Blah, Blah, song (from Delicious, film music)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

13. A Dangerous Maid, musical Boy Wanted
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

14. Love Is Here To Stay, song (from The Goldwyn Follies, film)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

15. Limehouse Nights, song (from The Morris Gest Midnight Whirl, revue with music by various composers)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

16. Wait a bit, Susie
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

17. I'd Rather Charleston, song (composed for London production of Lady, Be Good)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

18. Primrose, musical Isn't It Wonderful?
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

19. Nobody but you, song (from musical La, La, Lucille)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

20. Swanee
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

21. Dixie Rose, song
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

22. Someone believes in you
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

23. Nashville Nightingale, song (from Nifties of 1923, musical by various composers)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Ian Pace

Customer Reviews:

Gershwin filtered through a modern master.......2004-01-08

Michael Finnissy is finally getting his due, and this recording is one of a number of excellent recent ones that show him at his quirky best. Finnissy has completely rethought these old standards, going much further than simply taking the melodies and inserting new chords underneath them. Some freedom with the rhythms echo some of the grand old piano transcriptions from the past -- an interesting reference and high praise. And the textures here are crucial: all of the piano lines are important, from top to bottom, and Ian Pace's intelligent renderings make all of this audible.

I hope this disc, as well as Pace's other Finnissy recordings, will push the composer's profile even higher. Many of these would make clever encores in the right context. (And I look forward to those recitals!) Some listeners may find it difficult to absorb too much of this recording at once, since it's all quite concentrated. Three or four of these arrangements at one time might be recommended for newcomers. Nevertheless, this is an outstanding example of Finnissy's creative mind coupled with Pace's exemplary artistry.

Sound quality by Metier is excellent, with Finnissy's complexity put forth with wonderful clarity. A witty, enlightening and very persuasive disc.

not the Finnissy I know.......2000-04-13

Ian Pace is a marvelous pianist of the new or old complexity. He has the entire repertoire of the new under his fingers and mind. He can a be a bit passive however in the live performances I've heard in Chicago in particular. Well he is new to the scene. Finnissy on the the other hand has been making constructing,concocting and mesmerizing those who follow this music for quite some time. Like preaching to the already converted. His music taps nicely into post-modernist thinking, the mileau of utilizing borrowed found objects,already in the world- material but transformed and transmogrified in such a way that the metamorphosis becomes something quite relevant,brilliant and unexpected from the materials given, much like Kafka's insect. Finnissy's piano music is quite literally impossible to play, I don't know who can play it including everyone here mentioned. When for instance you have 72 tones against 57, resulting in an asymmetrical odd bit of musical irrationality(at least within the Western canon)who can do that? . The computer I'm on now the Finale software can play that without a flinch. Gershwin here is not transformed interestingly enough, at least from the perspective of Finnissy's other master piano concoctions like the Verdi Transcriptions or the English Country Tunes. Both those works made the materials sink and respond opaquely,virtuositically becoming part of the blizzards of tones, and filigreed moments scouring and traversing the entire register of the piano. The Gershwin here by contrast seems like a tired pianist sitting in a lounge trying to recapture an old dust-ladened flame, Casablanca? .