Critic tim page talked about glenn gould, the canadian pianist who became legendary for his interpretations of bachs goldberg variations. This bach complete collection doesnt contain glenn gould live in leningrad 1957 with bachs keyboard concerto no. An interpretation of johann sebastian bachs goldberg variations bwv 988, the work launched gould s career as a renowned international pianist, and became one of the most wellknown piano recordings. It was directed by francois girard, with a screenplay by girard and don mckellar. Glenn goulds bach score surfaces, scrawls and all the. G lenn goulds extraordinary career was bracketed by the goldberg variations. Feb 28, 2005 in the liner notes, glenn gould writes that he tried to convey a constant pulse throughout the entire cd, which i think he managed to do favourably. Based on the revcom series, glenn gould plays 1987, canadian broadcasting corp. Imagine sitting in glenn gould studio and hearing goulds brilliant 1955 performance of the goldberg variations in person. It launched goulds career as a renowned international pianist, and became one. Documentary on glenn gould at a recording session, making a radio documentary and in the ontario northland. But it was his 1955 recording that launched his career as an international figure, fast becoming one of the worlds bestknown piano recordings. But in the 1981 variations, gould makes good on his desire for dignity.
Now the complete recording sessions have been issued. What has been lost however, was his very interesting liner notes to this debut album. A noteperfect recreation of canadian pianist glenn goulds 1955 recording of johann sebastian bachs goldberg variations. As this conversation at npr notes, the piece begins with an initial melody, the aria, followed by 30 short but brilliant variations built on eight notes that bach appears to have borrowed from handel. Released 26 july 2004 on sony classical catalog no. The sound from what would seem to be from an age before technological breakthroughs in sound recording is clean and clear with a fullness and great imaging. Glenn gould the complete bach collection 38cd, 6dvd boxset. There and bach again the revealing new release that pairs glenn goulds goldberg variations. Gould gave only two concerts in 1964, one in chicago. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Yet there is something in the second goldberg variations, taped four months before goulds death, that i more frequently return toa quality of summation, i believe, of an artist having arrived. See all 23 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Goldberg variations by glenn gould on amazon music. The career of the singular and idiosyncratic pianist glenn gould is probably best defined by his two recordings of bachs goldberg variations.
Goulds first performance to receive widespread attention was his 1955 recording of bachs goldberg variations. Bach the goldberg variations glenn gould 1955 youtube chopin complete nocturnes brigitte engerer duration. Bach the goldberg variations glenn gould 1955 replication. His speed, dexterity and tone revolutionized the understanding of this piece and it became inextricably linked. Glenn gould s exciting and careerstarting 1955 recording of js bachs goldberg variations currently exists in several versions. Oct 25, 2017 in 1955, a little known canadian pianist recorded the goldberg variations. He was renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard works of johann sebastian bach. This zenph reperformance release features new recordings of that experience specifically designed for surroundsound, stereo or headphone listening. A state of wonder the complete goldberg variations 1955. Mar 20, 2012 from glenn gould in 1955 to simone dinnersteins debut in 2005, every decade seems to have its gamechanging goldbergs.
The goldberg variations 1955 recording, a classical music album by glenn gould. Glenn goulds exciting and careerstarting 1955 recording of js bachs goldberg variations currently exists in several versions. Sep 25, 2012 he had a mercurial career, rising to celebrity in 1955, at the age of twentythree, with his american debut recording, of bachs goldberg variationsyet, as so often happens when geniuses. Glenn gould gave his last public concert at the wilshire ebell theater in l. The recording quality is clearer, the performance is more nuanced, and it is ultimately the version that gould himself preferred. Bachs goldberg variations framed glenn goulds recording career and came to define him in ways that he would not have foreseen when he chose the work in 1955 as the vehicle for his. Dvd 6 glenn gould plays bach the goldberg variations by bruno monsaigeon complete scans including 190pages book. Gould s first performance to receive widespread attention was his 1955 recording of bachs goldberg variations. The goldberg variations marked both the beginning and the end of goulds career the 1981 recording was the last one he made before his death after suffering a stroke the following year. Jun 23, 2019 dvd 6 glenn gould plays bach the goldberg variations by bruno monsaigeon complete scans including 190pages book.
Glenn gould a state of wonder the complete goldberg. Goldberg variations glenn gould 1955 added to the national registry. Bachs goldberg variations is often considered the most ambitious composition ever written for harpsichord. Its difficult to imagine a performer and a piece of music as closely associated as are glenn gould and bachs goldberg variations. The goldberg variations is the 1955 debut album of the legendary pianist glenn gould. The goldberg variations glenn gould album wikipedia. Hearing glenn gould play goldberg variations anew wsj. Glenn gould liner notes to the 1954 goldberg variations glenn goulds 1955 goldberg variations was a legendary album and the music has remained available in music stores since then. My preference is for the cd transfer of the analog backup from 1981.
It launched gould s career as a renowned international pianist, and became one of the most wellknown piano recordings. Selections originally produced for the canadian broadcasting corporation, 19571982. Which recording of bachs goldberg variations by glenn. Thirty two short films about glenn gould is a 1993 canadian biographical anthology film about the pianist glenn gould, played by colm feore. The 1955 goldberg variations birth of a legend by johann. Goulds album both established the goldberg variations within the contemporary classical repertoire and made him an internationally famous pianist nearly overnight. Goulds playing was distinguished by a remarkable technical proficiency and a capacity to articulate the contrapuntal. There has also been speculation that he may have had bipolar disorder, because he sometimes went several days without sleep, had extreme increases in energy, drove recklessly, and, in later life. Imagine sitting in glenn gould studio and hearing gould s brilliant 1955 performance of the goldberg variations in person. It was his first recording of the work, in 1955, that established gould as a pianistic force of exceptional gifts. This recording of the watershed 1955 performance of bachs aria with 30 variations better known as the goldberg variations is stunningly beautiful. In the decade before dinnerstein, it belonged to russianborn violinist.
The 1955 goldberg variations birth of a legend, an album by johann sebastian bach, glenn gould on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Goldberg variations, bwv 988 by glenn gould on amazon. Solitude, exile and ecstasy was a bbc radio 3 drama broadcast in 1991. Listening to the 1981 version makes me feel very much at peace. While glenn goulds 1955 debut recording of bachs goldberg variations has attained legendary status, there are many devoted fans who rank the 1981 recording just as highly, even though it offers a dramatically different interpretation. Gould made two studio recordings of the goldberg, the second in 1981, just over a year before his death at the age of 50, but it was his earlier recording, made in 1955 and released the following. However, both the 1955 and the 1981 recordings have since been remastered, and the second recording has been reappraised favorably. The album launched glenn goulds career and popularized bachs music. Glenn goulds bach score surfaces, scrawls and all glenn goulds heavily markedup score for bachs goldberg variations, used in his 1981 recording, will be sold at auction. The holy grail of glenn gould manuscripts at bonhams. Glenn gould a reperformance by zenph studios album bach. The first, his majorlabel debut recorded in 1955, was gould s breakthrough.
He had first played the goldberg variations in concert in 1954, and the composition became a staple of his performances. Glenn gould toronto, canada 19321982 was a canadian pianist most known for his interpretations of baroque keyboard music, particularly the works of johann sebastian bach. Its an impressive example of musical oneupmanship so. In hindsight, one can almost believe that glenn gould had it all planned outthe unknown 22year old canadian pianist would come to. Glenn goulds the goldberg variations 1981 history of. The goldberg variations 1955 recording glenn gould. Glenn gould this set contains the 1955 performance of bachs goldberg variations that won the young glenn gould world fame paired with the pianists second, vastly different, recording of the same piece, which. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Being in the minority in my feelings for glenn goulds second goldberg variations, i feel it wise to add that i do not necessarily prefer them to his more famous 1955 recordings, as an admirer might. In 1955, a little known canadian pianist recorded the goldberg variations. Jun 05, 2016 tim was the project consultant for glenn gould. A state of wonder, the 2002 sony release that paired the pianists 1955 and 1981 goldberg recordings, and the new fischer edition has. The diagnosis was first suggested by psychiatrist peter ostwald, a friend of goulds, in the 1997 book glenn gould.
The 1955 goldberg variations birth of a legend by glenn. Glenn gould the 1955 goldberg variations birth of a. Glenn gould gives us an overview of the musical form known as the fugue, originally broadcast march 41963. The album launched glenn gould s career and popularized bachs music. Glenn goulds innovative 1955 recording changed all of that. First played in concert by gould in 1954, the composition was a staple of goulds performances in the years following the recording. Two years later, he predicted in a magazine article that the public concert as we know. Thirty two short films about glenn gould wikipedia. Goldberg variations, bwv 988 stereo surround version. Sep 19, 2002 g lenn goulds extraordinary career was bracketed by the goldberg variations. Check out the 1955 goldberg variations birth of a legend by glenn gould on amazon music. Nicholas hopkins, glenn gould s goldberg variations 2015. Glenn goulds 1955 recording of bachs goldberg variations marks the commercial debut for the process.
Goldberg variations, bwv 988 1955 mono recording released. Glenn gould s 1955 recording of bachs goldberg variations marks the commercial debut for the process. Essay by tim page guest post glenn gould original label original album. Goldberg variations a new box set offers the ingenious 1955 interpretation of bachs odes to god that turned gould into a star, and the remarkably different version he recorded in. The goldberg variations, bwv 988 1955 gould remastered by glenn gould on amazon music. Psi have a promo copy of the 1955 original on columbia. In 1956 glenn goulds first columbia masterworks release, bachs goldberg variations, took the music world by storm and immediately established the 23yearold canadian pianist as one of the most brilliant, original, charismatic and provocative classical performers of his time. The goldberg variations 1955 recording by glenn gould.
The first recording, from 1955, was his majorlabel debut and. The sound is predictably better than the early digital master. Technically speaking, probably the later version from 1981. Gould s dazzling 1955 performance not only made the young pianist famous, it blew the cobwebs off music which had previously been regarded as a piece of musical esoterica.