Taktus: Mirrored Glass Taktus

• Ann Southam (1937 - 2010): Glass Houses (Excerpts Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas):
• 1 Glass Houses (Excerpts Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas): No. 11, — 06:08
• 2 Glass Houses (Excerpts Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas): No. 15, — 07:32
• 3 Glass Houses (Excerpts Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas): No. 2, — 06:54
• 4 Glass Houses (Excerpts Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas): No. 4, — 05:30
• Ann Southam:
• 5 Rivers, Set 1 (Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas) 06:56
• Philip Glass (b. 1937): Études, Book 1 (Excerpts Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas):
• 6 Études, Book 1 (Excerpts Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas): No. 6, — 05:30
• Études, Book 2:
• 7 Études, Book 2: No. 12, — (Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas) 07:09
• Études, Book 1 (Excerpts Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas):
• 8 Études, Book 1 (Excerpts Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas): No. 5, — 05:51
• 9 Études, Book 1 (Excerpts Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas): No. 9, — 02:58
• Philip Glass:
• 10 Music in Contrary Motion (Arr. Taktus for 2 Marimbas) 09:05
• Total Runtime 01:03:33

Info for Taktus: Mirrored Glass

Taktus Duo’s MIRRORED GLASS is all about examining similarities and differences, like reality and the image in the mirror. Creating a two-sided album, percussionists Greg Harrison and Jonny Smith take inspiration from piano composers Ann Southam and Philip Glass and filter their music through the sounds of the marimba.

On the first side of the album, Taktus performs arrangements of Southam’s Glass Houses and Rivers 1. The decidedly bright and joyous tone of the album reflects Southam’s sound, and the duo uses electronic processing on their instruments to create an effect similar to the sustain pedal on piano.

The second side features arrangements of Glass’s Etudes and Music in Contrary Motion. In these pieces, the duo creates a more dark, moody atmosphere, reflective of Glass’s sound. The interplay between Harrison and Smith displays the marimba’s most distinct qualities. The minimal melodies and harmonies still carry the sound along beautifully, while the rhythmic performances create a hypnotizing groove, gripping the listener throughout each piece.

The two sides of MIRRORED GLASS were recorded in different studios with different recording engineers, providing a contrasting sonic experience. The album, however, comes together beautifully as a whole. No matter the mood, MIRRORED GLASS has something for every listener.

"This albums succeeds on all fronts" — I Care If You Listen

"The playing throughout the CD was impeccable and articulate." — The WholeNote Magazine

"...absolutely brilliant recording..." — Scene Mag

"The percussion duo Taktus wasn't even on our radar until Centrediscs dropped this sonic bomb in July, and now we're superfans." — CBC Music

Greg Harrison, marimba
Jonny Smith, marimba

TAKTUS
In 2010, Greg Harrison and Jonny Smith created the percussion duo TAKTUS while pursuing Masters Degrees at the University of Toronto. With a wide range of musical influences - from classical to electronic - Taktus seeks to create music that crosses borders between genres and is relevant to contemporary audiences. Their premiere project is set of marimba duet arrangements of Glass Houses - a seminal work of Canadian minimalism by composer Ann Southam. Their performances have been described as "virtuosic" (Gapplegate Music), "impeccable and articulate" (The WholeNote Magazine), and ”daring" (I Care If you Listen). 2015 was a break-out year for Taktus with the launch of their critically acclaimed debut album, Glass Houses for Marimba (Centrediscs). The album gained national recognition by earning spot on CBC’s “Top 10 Classical Albums of 2015” and a nomination for "Classical Recording of the Year” at the 2017 ECMA’s. Taktus has performed in a wide variety of venues ranging from classical music concert series to contemporary/experimental music festivals. Highlights include performances with the Music Gallery, Toronto Summer Music in the Garden, Musique Royale, Din of Shadows, Intersection, Lupercalia, and FUZE Fest. Taktus’s music has also been licensed for use in contemporary dance and visual art projects. Their recording of Glass Houses No. 13 was choreographed by the Artistic Director of the Toronto Dance Theatre, Christopher House, and featured in dance performances across Canada and internationally. Taktus also performed live with the TDT in the finale of the theatre’s 50th Anniversary Season. Through every avenue, Taktus aims to connect with a diverse array of audiences, providing them with a fresh perspective on minimalist music.

Booklet for Taktus: Mirrored Glass