The Goldberg Variations (Uri Caine album)
The Goldberg Variations is a double CD album by pianist Uri Caine's Ensemble performing Johann Sebastian Bach's Goldberg Variations recorded in remembrance of 250th anniversary of his death and released on the Winter & Winter label. Reception. In his review for Allmusic, Alex Henderson said " Occasionally, this double-CD comes across as iconoclasm for the sake of iconoclasm; things become forced and unnatural when Caine employs DJs and unsuccessfully tries to convince us that hip-hop, electronica, and rave music can be relevant to Bach. But most of the time, his experimentation pays  off handsomely. "Goldberg Variations" isn't for everyone; classical purists, in fact, will want to avoid it. But those who have very eclectic tastes in music will find that this 1999/2000 project, although not perfect, is highly imaginative and even fascinating". On All About Jazz Glenn Astarita said "Basically, one of the great attributes of this ambitious project is based upon Caine's ability to inject humor and disparate elements into his writings and arrangements; although, there's much more than meets the eye here as ideas abound with ceaseless invention and soulful articulation despite the semi austere implications. Perhaps  the bottom line or desired effect of this project is contingent upon the relationships established between varying art forms and how all music is rooted and intertwined. Either way you view it, Caine's "The Goldberg Variations" is a magnificent event for the aural senses! Highly recommended". The BBC's ClassicalMusic.com said "Caine’s arrangements are wonderfully inventive and they’re brilliantly executed, too. Caine treats Bach’s original variations fairly soberly – most are played either on solo piano or by a Baroque chamber ensemble – but elsewhere he lets his imagination run riot... DJs, poets, a choral group, a gamba  quartet, several notable jazzers and a gamut of vocalists also feature. There’s humour aplenty, yet Caine respects musicality – each variation is crafted with due expertise. Parody? Pastiche? It’s more a carnivalesque celebration of Bach’s enduring appeal. If only more tributes could be this bold, this creative, this much fun!" Track listing. "All compositions adapted arranged and composed by Uri caine after Johann Sebastian Bach" Disc One: "Disc Two:' Quartetto Italiano di Viole da Gamba: Köln String Quartet: Kettwiger Bach Ensemble conducted by Wolfgang Kläsener