John Adams

Short Ride in a Fast Machine

Note by Christina & Michelle Naughton, to whom the piece is dedicated and who recorded it for Warner Classics:'In addition to being a brilliant adaption of the orchestral piece, the four-hand version of Short Ride independently deserves a prominent place in the four-hand piano repertoire. Just as a black and white photo can capture beauty and detail not readily apparent in colour, transcribing the spectacular orchestration to piano alone reveals additional rhythmic and tonal aspects of this masterpiece. […] When we began performing the work we experienced with surprise that not only does it paint an aural picture of a Short Ride; when sitting side by side at the piano it feels as though every bone in our body is being taken on a 'short ride in a fast machine' that is exhilarating for the performer and listener alike.”