Genesis For Two Grand Pianos - Volume Two by Yngve Guddal; Roger T. Matte (Audio CD)
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Editorial Reviews
 

Product Description
Yngve GUDDAL & Roger T. MATTE found an original way to pay tribute to their favourite band, this way being perfectly described by the title of their first album "Genesis For Two Grand Pianos" (2002). Soon after this artistic and commercial success, these nice Norwegians are back with a second volume. They also transfer from Camino Records (Steve HACKETT's label) to Musea. This features some of the finest pieces of the classical GENESIS, sometimes undervalued, such as "Eleventh Earl Of Mar", "Blood On The Rooftops" or "The Battle Of Epping Forest". The Eighties were not left aside as there can be heard a part of the album "Abacab": "Me And Sarah Jane". A highlight of this major opus is the perfect rendition of "The Cinema Show", a real ode to the Steinway Grand Piano. And again Paul WHITEHEAD, who made GENESIS' most famous sleeves, designed that one. As a conclusion, here is a true breathe, with subtle dialogues between both pianists, complex arrangements and a masterly performance: art at its finest !
 

Customer Reviews

 
Beautiful!, February 23, 2006
 
Reviewer: Al Carbonara (Los Angeles, California, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

If you ever wondered why you're so fond of Genesis' music, you only have to listen once to these exquisite arrangements by Yngve Guddal and Roger T. Matte of some of the band's classic tracks. Beautiful songs, outstanding performances. Highly recommended, along with Guddal's and Matte's previous collection, "Genesis For Two Grand Pianos." A must for Genesis fans or anyone who enjoys great piano music.




 

 

Glorious Interpretations of Classic Genesis, February 16, 2006
 
Reviewer: Kirk Lott "a strange and unusual person" (adrift on the seas of life) - See all my reviews

It's hard to imagine how wonderful these albums are (this is the second and even better volume - and hopefully there are more to come!)

This is an album of piano duets of the music of the 70s progressive rock masters, Genesis. However, it is NOT a `tribute' album. 'Tribute' albums are often Velveeta-smothered cheeseballs, sometimes just plain old elevator music. Other times they're nothing more than limp attempts - with little or imagination - at marketing tools for aspiring prog bands.

But not the music of Guddal and Matte.

First, the music has all the passion of the original music, and then some. You can feel the love that Guddal and Matte have for the music of Genesis, and this passion is deeply infused into these recordings.

The concept of dual pianos is great, creating a synergy with different melody lines, and allowing for great flourishes and nuances. The whole is indeed greater than the sum of the parts.

Further, their arrangements truly reveal the brilliance and composing genius of Banks/Collins/Gabrial/Hackett/Rutherford. The uninitiated would swear they're listening to compositions by giants of classical music such as Gershwin or Debussy.

The song choices are not obvious, but rather interesting and daring. It's so wonderful to see an underrated Genesis masterpiece "Eleventh Earl of Mar" receiving such a superb rendition. Seemingly odd choices like "Me and Sarah Jane" - never a strong track in my opinion - are heard from new, more satisfying perspectives. Indeed, one could say some of these arrangement exceed the original Genesis recordings.

Bravo to Mssrs. Guddal and Matte. Music lovers of all kinds are fortunate they've applied their considerable virtuosity to the great library of Genesis, and created wonderful, passionate, timeless interpretations of compositions that have stood the test of time.

Here's looking forward to Volume 3, and hopefully a series on the music of the other prog masters, Yes.