Margo Guryan – The Chopsticks Variations

I never thought that anyone could do anything with “Chopsticks”, but Margo Guryan has   done it remarkably in a charming set of variations on the famous tune: clever, witty, at times tender and elegant, at other times punning and ribald. Every variation has some delightfully surprising touch. A little American “Mikrokosmas” – and much more fun! – Gunther Schuller (Pulitzer Prize Winner, Down Beat Lifetime Achievement Award, Columbia University’s William Schuman Award for lifetime achievement in American music composition and the MacArthur Foundation ‘genius’ award).

Tracks:
Variation 1 – Round
Variation 2 – Adante
Variation 3 – Allegretto
Variation 4 – Rhymes
Variation 5 – Andantino
Variation 6 – Ragtime
Variation 7 – Boogie Woogie
Variation 8 – Inventionette
Variation 9 – Adagio
Variation 10 – Allegro
Variation 11 – Barcarole
Variation 12 – Walking
Variation 13 – Melody
Variation 14 – Finale