Glass: Complete Piano Etudes Jeroen van Veen

• Philip Glass (1937- ): Etudes for Piano Book I:
• 1 I. Etude in G Minor 06:29
• 2 II. Etude in A Minor 07:26
• 3 III. Etude in A Major 04:46
• 4 IV. Etude in D Minor 04:23
• 5 V. Etude in F Minor 09:49
• 6 VI. Etude in F Minor 05:49
• 7 VII. Etude in A Minor 14:40
• 8 VIII. Etude in C Major 07:03
• 9 IX. Etude in F Minor 03:53
• 10 X. Etude in E-Flat Major 08:37
• Etudes for Piano Book II:
• 11 XI. Etude in C Minor 08:29
• 12 XII. Etude in D Minor 07:44
• 13 XIII. Etude in F Major 04:57
• 14 XIV. Etude in A-Flat Major 06:16
• 15 XV. Etude in D Major 07:46
• 16 XVI. Etude in G Minor 05:43
• 17 XVII. Etude in F Minor 08:42
• 18 XVIII. Etude in G Minor 04:28
• 19 IXX Etude in C Major 05:50
• 20 XX. Etude in C Major 10:03
• Total Runtime 02:22:53

Info for Glass: Complete Piano Etudes

Along with the two books of piano studies by Gyorgy Ligeti, the Etudes of Philip Glass have taken their place as modern classics of the literature, serving both a didactic purpose to train the fingers and minds of their performers, but also bringing their unique soundworlds to new audiences.

Glass himself remarked that the first book, compiled from work between 1991 and 2012, had a twin objective, ‘to explore a variety of tempi, textures and piano techniques. At the same time it was meant to serve as a pedagogical tool by which I would improve my piano playing.’ The studies of Book 2 (2012-14) are often bolder in finding new structures and fresh keyboard colours. Each of the 20 Etudes handles a specific piano technique, and the two books are united by the instantly recognisable quirks of Glass’s harmonic language and, as Jeroen van Veen remarks in his booklet note, ‘in almost all the etudes, endurance is the main issue to overcome’.

Most recent of the pianist’s many Brilliant Classics recordings of Minimalist music have been albums dedicated to the genre’s godfather, Erik Satie (BC95350) and his successors including Michael Nyman (BC95112) and Max Richter (BC95390). ‘Van Veen’s beautiful and texturally varied sonority, his long-lined sensibility, and his intense focus draw you in,’ remarked Classics Today of the complete Satie box.

‘Sample the Nocturnes’ sustained, almost otherworldly serenity, or the subtle spacing of notes throughout the Véritables préludes flaques, and you’ll hear how completely and masterfully van Veen conveys his intentions, abetted by superb, full-bodied sonics… His fascinating and riveting pianism is well worth Brilliant Classics’ attractive budget price.’

Philip Glass’ Piano Etudes stand at the end of a long line of development, starting with “exercises” by Scarlatti, through romantic piano etudes composers such as Clementi, Czerny, Hummel, Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, to 20-th century masters like Ligeti and Cage.

Philip Glass, icon of the Minimal Music, wrote these etudes between 1991 and 2012, to “explore a variety of tempi, textures and piano techniques”, and also “to become a better player”.

Jeroen van Veen, celebrated pioneer of the performance of Minimal Music and Extraordinary Repertoire, considers these etudes as “refreshingly new, really adding something to the existing repertoire, the challenge being not only the technical hurdles but mainly the endurance and concentration”.

Jeroen van Veen, piano

Jeroen Van Veen
born 1969 started playing the piano at the age of 7. He studied at the Utrecht Conservatory with Alwin Bär and Håkon Austbö. In 1993 he passed the Performing Artists' Exam. Van Veen has played with orchestras conducted by Howard Williams, Peter Eötvös, Neal Stulberg and Robert Craft. He has played recitals in Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Russia & the USA. Van Veen attended master classes with Claude Helffer, Hans-Peter & Volker Stenzl and Roberto Szidon. He was invited to several festivals; Reder Piano Festival (1988), Festival der Kunsten in Bad Gleichenberg (1992), Wien Modern (1993), Holland Dance Festival (1998) Lek Art Festival (1996-2007). Van Veen recorded for major Dutch Radio- and Television companies like AVRO, NOS, IKON, NCRV, TROS/Internet, WTBC-TV & Radio (Florida, U.S.A.) and Moscow Television. In 1992, Van Veen recorded his first CD with his brother Maarten as the internationally recognized Piano duo Van Veen. In 1995 Piano duo Van Veen made their debut in the United States. They were prizewinners in the prestigious 4th International Murray Dranoff Two Piano Competition in Miami, Florida. After this achievement they toured the United States and Canada many times. The documentary "Two Pianos One Passion" (nominated with an Emmy Award 1996) documents them as a duo.

In 1995 Jeroen Van Veen founded the duo Sandra & Jeroen van Veen, a piano duo with Sandra Mol. As such, they mainly perform (minimal) music for multiple pianos by Erik Satie, Douwe Eisenga, Simeon ten Holt and many more. Beside his career as a solo pianist Van Veen also participates in the following ensembles: ‘Piano Ensemble’, ‘The International Piano Quartet’, ‘Piano Mania’, ‘DJ Piano’ and ‘Jeroen van Veen & Friends’.

The various (>80) compositions by Van Veen may be described as ‘Minimal Music’ with different faces, Crossovers to Jazz, Blues, Soundscape, Avant-Garde, Techno, Trance and Pop Music. Currently Mr. Van Veen is director of Van Veen Productions, Chairman of the Simeon ten Holt Foundation, Culemborg Cultural Foundation, Pianomania Foundation and artistic director of several music festivals in Culemborg, Utrecht and Veldhoven. He is active in Murray Dranoff Two Piano Competition based in Miami (USA). Over the last 20 years Van Veen recorded more than 100 CDs for several labels Mirasound, Koch, Naxos, Brilliant Classics, and his own label PIANO. The recording of Les Noces for Koch and Naxos was stated in the New York Times as " the best recording ever". Classics Today on Erik Satie pianoworks four hands, 10 artistic quality, 10 sound quality.

Booklet for Glass: Complete Piano Etudes