Reviews
"... he [Pius] surmounts the contrapuntal hurdles and offers a stylish, deeply expressive interpretation notable for its clear voicing, eloquent phrasing and wide range of color and dynamics."
The New York Times
"Absolutely incredible! Considering the complete Goldberg Variations include a theme (Aria), 30 variations and a concluding Aria, with a total performance time of about 53 minutes, the sheer volume of notes is a major feat in itself. Those thousands of notes in a classic harmonic setting are performed with amazing accuracy by young marimbist Pius Cheung. One could spend pages discussing the appropriateness of transcriptions from the Baroque period, but there would be general agreement that there is some relation between the marimba, with its struck bars of wood, and the clavier or harpsichord, with strings that are plucked or struck. Cheung adds a tasty amount of musical nuances that Bach would have likely approved of had he heard today s modern marimba. The richness of tone of the instrument is clear on the recording and the bass line is especially warm and secure. It should be noted that the 30 variations are not motivic variations but based on the bass line and harmonic structure of the opening Aria. This performance brings out the bass line is a subtle but effective way that perhaps the clavier could not. Only a few adjustments were made from the original music and those are limited to taking some of the lower bass notes that were out of the marimba s range up an octave and editing some of the ornamentations. Variation 28 is an exception with a number of adjustments from the original."
F. Michael Combs, Percussive Notes - Percussive Arts Society
"In my opinion, Pius Cheung is a remarkably gifted and accomplished young artist. I always enjoy listening to his elegant and virtuosic music-making."
Gary Graffman, Legendary Pianist
"Pius, Your Bach CD is brilliant. It's so warm and musical, and truly engaging. I would think this is a recording that would do well in the world....lots of folks would like to put it on and listen, both actively and in the background. Your playing is extremely sensitive and appropriate for Bach. Congratulations on such a wonderful disc."
Jennifer Higdon, World-renowned Composer
Music CD & Sound Clips
Music CD released by Pius Cheung, Marimba Artist & Composer. It is the first and only CD recording of the complete J.S. Bach Goldberg Variations BWV 988 played on solo marimba. Music is arranged by Pius for solo marimba and there are 32 tracks with a total playing time of 52 min 39 sec.
Following are the short clips of the original sound tracks in MP3 format (click on links to play):
1. Aria
2. Variation 1 a 1 Clav.
3. Variation 2 a 1 Clav.
4. Variation 3 a 1 Clav. Canone all' Unisuono
5. Variation 4 a 1 Clav.
6. Variation 5 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav.
7. Variation 6 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Seconda
8. Variation 7 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav.
9. Variation 8 a 2 Clav.
10. Variation 9 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Terza
11. Variation 10 a 1 Clav. Fughetta
12. Variation 11 a 2 Clav.
13. Variation 12 Canone alla Quarta
14. Variation 13 a 2 Clav.
15. Variation 14 a 2 Clav.
16. Variation 15 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Quinta. Andante
17. Variation 16 Overture a 1 Clav.
18. Variation 17 a 2 Clav.
19. Variation 18 a 1 Clav. Canone all Sesta
20. Variation 19 a 1 Clav.
21. Variation 20 a 2 Clav.
22. Variation 21 Canone alla Settima
23. Variation 22 a 1 Clav. Alla breve
24. Variation 23 a 2 Clav.
25. Variation 24 a 1 Clav. Canone all' Ottava
26. Variation 25 a 2 Clav.
27. Variation 26 a 2 Clav.
28. Variation 27 a 2 Clav. Canone alla Nona
29. Variation 28 a 2 Clav.
30. Variation 29 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav.
31. Variation 30 a 1 Clav. Quodlibet
32. Aria da capo
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