John Adams's Short Ride in a Fast Machine (arranged for 4 hands)

The art of good piano transcription is in keeping true to the spirit of the original orchestral work, but also giving a fresh insight into the music while also avoiding the feeling that something has gone missing in reducing the forces from a full orchestra to a single piano. Short Ride in a Fast Machine is, as one would expect from John Adams, a dazzling piece of orchestration and Preben Antonsen's transcription of the piece for four hands at one piano captures the spirit of the original beautifully.

Christina and Michelle Naughton have included the transcription on their new album for Warner Classics 'American Postcard'. You can enjoy their performance in the video below:

'American Postcard' also features a new work by Adams called Roll Over Beethoven, which the Naughtons premiered in 2016.

Gramophone.co.uk.