Watch Timo Andres Perform Philip Glass's Evening Song No. 2, Nonesuch Records

Watch the music unfold in Nonesuch Records’ latest video, featuring Philip Glass’s Evening Song No. 2, performed by Timo Andres. Philip Glass’s Evening Song No. 2 was composed in honor of Bob Hurwitz upon his becoming Chairman Emeritus of the record label in 2017. It is part of a series of piano pieces Nonesuch will be releasing on May 22nd 2020, entitled ‘I Still Play’. The pieces are designed to be personal tributes to Hurwitz and envisioned as pieces that Hurwitz, a lifelong pianist, might enjoy playing at home in his retirement. 

While I’m sure that Nonesuch Records has been planning this record for a long time, I find that an album of solo piano music, intended to be played for an audience of one, uniquely encapsulates this moment in time. People all around the world are spending more time on their own than ever before. Cut off from friends and family, grieving the loss of loved ones, many people are suffering and all of us are spending more time alone.

Musicians are suddenly finding themselves without performances or the ability to make music with their ensembles. For the time being, music has become a more solitary art form. What the music from ‘I Still Play’ can offer us, is the idea that even when it seems like no one can be there with us, music can be. 

Evening Song No. 2 by Philip Glass is a thoughtful meditative piece and Timo Andres plays beautifully on this recording. The music video gives some wonderful insight into the score and lets you watch the music unfold before you. The album ‘I Still Play’, to be released on May 22nd will feature solo piano works by John Adams, Timo Andres, Laurie Anderson, Louis Andriessen, Donnacha Dennehy, Philip Glass, Nico Muhly, Brad Mehldau, Steve Reich, Randy Newman and Pat Metheny. The pieces are performed by Brad Mehldau, Randy Newman, Timo Andres and Jeremy Denk.