Philip Glass’s piano writing provides the foundation for Tauceti’s reinterpretation of Etude N°2, with its repeating melodic figures surrounded by electronic textures and a gently pulsing rhythmic arrangement.
There’s a considerable amount happening around the piano. A steady, muted drum pulse underpins the piece, while string-like melodies occupy the upper register. Atmospheric electronic sweeps move through the background, adding colour and depth without drawing attention away from the central piano performance.
The different elements occupy their own spaces in the arrangement. Short melodic fragments appear and withdraw, sustained tones create a sense of distance, and the piano continues to hold the middle ground. The mood gradually becomes darker and more insistent, although the track never develops into a particularly forceful electronic production.
That’s an interesting choice. Rather than radically restructuring Glass’s composition, Tauceti works around its repeating patterns, finding room for electronic atmosphere and rhythm while retaining the character of Vanessa Wagner’s playing. Even as the surrounding textures grow denser, the piano remains clearly identifiable.
The remix appears on Piano Etude Versions, an InFiné release featuring reinterpretations by Aho Ssan, Carmen Villain, Tauceti and Cucina Povera. The project follows Wagner’s recording of Philip Glass: The Complete Piano Etudes and explores how the compositions respond to different electronic approaches.
At eight and a half minutes, Tauceti’s version has room to develop its changing textures without losing its central musical idea. It’s an atmospheric, carefully balanced interpretation, with the piano remaining the focus throughout.
Listen: Spotify · Vanessa Wagner on Instagram
