The Gould Mozart is amazing only because he managed to record the actual sound of contempt oozing out of his veins. In a world where I can listen to Vikingur O., my motivation to give Glenn Gould another listen definitely flags . . .
I generally suck at assessing different interpretations of pieces, so I need much more listening experience with both WTC books before I can make an independent judge on Gould's playing. I enjoyed your narrative, with all stages of 'discovery' included: awe to disgust to accepting ambivalence. Gould's Mozart interpretations, on the other hand, produced nothing in me but shock on listening to your soundbytes. Chris, on listening 'blind', guessed the composer was Rachmaninoff. If I hadn't known these pieces, I would probably have said the same. Horrendous interpretations that do not serve the music or style! PS - I laughed at your title "Glenn Gould, piano (and vocals)".
I mentioned Glenn Gould to my kids piano teacher the other day and she shuddered. I not sure he has a bigger fan, on the planet--when it comes to his Bach I mean--than me, but she's the only teacher in town! So I'll keep quiet about it going forward. I've always thought of #8 as kind of uncharacteristically frenetic for Mozart; there's a scene in the 2017 version of Howard's End where Tibby is playing it almost angrily and I love it. Gould's version is unbearable.
Will do. BTW, how do you feel about Brendel? I'm unable to listen to anyone else when it comes to the romantic composers, and he sure romanticizes this crazy song but I love it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MiT_DGJElk&t=23s
I haven’t listened to enough Brendel but my first run through his Beethoven a few years ago left me feeling like it was very brainy. I should give another shot. Will check out that link you attached.
I can take or leave Gould's Intermezzi, but his recording of the Ballades and Rhapsodies is electric. It's one my top-10-desert-island recordings. (https://glenngould.com/music/brahms-op-10/)
interesting. I wonder to what extent (at least for me) it's a function of which performance one listens to first. I know these pieces through Gould, so perhaps it's not surprising they are the one I gravitate to. Which is your favorite?
Those Gould Mozart sonatas infuriated me when I heard them so long ago. Maybe they've been digitally remastered to remove the random, senseless humming by Gould, but at the time it was probably impossible to avoid.
The Gould Mozart is amazing only because he managed to record the actual sound of contempt oozing out of his veins. In a world where I can listen to Vikingur O., my motivation to give Glenn Gould another listen definitely flags . . .
Wow, ha - I'm not the only one who hears it.
I generally suck at assessing different interpretations of pieces, so I need much more listening experience with both WTC books before I can make an independent judge on Gould's playing. I enjoyed your narrative, with all stages of 'discovery' included: awe to disgust to accepting ambivalence. Gould's Mozart interpretations, on the other hand, produced nothing in me but shock on listening to your soundbytes. Chris, on listening 'blind', guessed the composer was Rachmaninoff. If I hadn't known these pieces, I would probably have said the same. Horrendous interpretations that do not serve the music or style! PS - I laughed at your title "Glenn Gould, piano (and vocals)".
Nice. I'm glad you got the joke...
Glenn may just be like a family member whom you love but can't stand sometimes.
I know exactly what you mean. I'm the family member, except bereft of genius. Only dad still speaks to me.
Let's not forget that Gould said Mozart died too *old*. As much as I cherish his Bach, I will never forgive him for this.
Oh wow, yeah, the Byrd recording... amazing.
I mentioned Glenn Gould to my kids piano teacher the other day and she shuddered. I not sure he has a bigger fan, on the planet--when it comes to his Bach I mean--than me, but she's the only teacher in town! So I'll keep quiet about it going forward. I've always thought of #8 as kind of uncharacteristically frenetic for Mozart; there's a scene in the 2017 version of Howard's End where Tibby is playing it almost angrily and I love it. Gould's version is unbearable.
He's a lightning rod for sure! Do check out that William Byrd CD I linked in the article - I've never heard anything like it, I think you'll dig.
Will do. BTW, how do you feel about Brendel? I'm unable to listen to anyone else when it comes to the romantic composers, and he sure romanticizes this crazy song but I love it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MiT_DGJElk&t=23s
I haven’t listened to enough Brendel but my first run through his Beethoven a few years ago left me feeling like it was very brainy. I should give another shot. Will check out that link you attached.
I can take or leave Gould's Intermezzi, but his recording of the Ballades and Rhapsodies is electric. It's one my top-10-desert-island recordings. (https://glenngould.com/music/brahms-op-10/)
Ha - this album just doesn't land for me, I have so many other Brahms players I like more! Glad it resonates with you.
interesting. I wonder to what extent (at least for me) it's a function of which performance one listens to first. I know these pieces through Gould, so perhaps it's not surprising they are the one I gravitate to. Which is your favorite?
Argerich and Backhaus for the rhapsodies; Richter on the ballades. Gilels is good on both — Lars Vogt too.
thanks!
Those Gould Mozart sonatas infuriated me when I heard them so long ago. Maybe they've been digitally remastered to remove the random, senseless humming by Gould, but at the time it was probably impossible to avoid.
I don't even mind the humming -- for me, it's the playing!
Thank you for this. I have been waiting for you to talk about Gould. As with you, he was my introduction to Bach keyboard works (and indeed all Bach).