Oct 25, 2017 pianist glenn gould rocketed to fame in 1955 with his startling and original take on bachs goldberg variations. Interview with tim page 1981 studio outtakes from the 1955 recording session glenn gould. Gould, glenn johann sebastian bach the goldberg variations 1955 vinyl lp see more like this glenn gould bach goldberg variations 1982 germany cbs. Feb 02, 2018 glenn gould recording bachs goldberg variations in 1955. The fourth part of my series comparing goulds 1955 and 1981 recordings of the goldberg variations. Glenn goulds the goldberg variations 1981 history of. Glenn gould gave his last public concert at the wilshire ebell theater in l. The goldberg variations is the 1955 debut album of canadian classical pianist glenn gould. While glenn gould s 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.
Glenn herbert gould was born at home in toronto, on 25 september 1932, to russell herbert gold 19011996 and florence emma gold nee grieg. The goldberg variations glenn gould album wikipedia. Glenn gould s first recording of bachs goldberg variations, made in 1955, has an energy, an intensity and a. Solitude, exile and ecstasy was a bbc radio 3 drama broadcast in 1991. Jun 29, 2012 i prefer 1981, but maybe its just because i know it a bit longer. There and bach again the revealing new release that pairs glenn gould s goldberg variations. Documentary on glenn gould at a recording session, making a radio documentary and in the ontario northland.
Glenn gould goldberg variations 1981 musicians friend. 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. Based on the revcom series, glenn gould plays 1987, canadian broadcasting corp. Thanks to a potent mix of rhythmic precision and blindingfast tempijust listen to the liftoff of variation 5 glenn gould burst onto the record industrys radar with his 1955 performance of this bach masterwork. 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. This album was made shortly before the pianists premature death at age 50, so it is significant for being his last recording. 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. Goldberg variations bwv 988 the historic 1955 debut. Goldberg variations 1955 monaural recording japan ltd bluspec cd ii sicc30350. Thanks to a potent mix of rhythmic precision and blindingfast tempijust listen to the liftoff of variation 5glenn gould burst onto the record industrys radar with his 1955 performance of this bach masterwork.
It is named after johann gottlieb goldberg, who may also have been the first performer of the work. Jun 05, 2016 tim was the project consultant for glenn gould. Released in the year of glenn gould s 85th anniversary, it features his complete 1955 recording sessions of bachs goldberg variations on 5 cds including the studio conversations between him and his producer, restored from the original 14inch analogue tapes and remastered using 24 bit 96 khz technology, plus the final album on both cd. The goldberg variations, bwv 988, is a musical composition for harpsichord by johann sebastian bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. Goldberg variations, bwv 988 by glenn gould on amazon music. In 1956 glenn gould s 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. Glenn gould s heavily markedup score for bachs goldberg variations, used in his 1981 recording, will be sold at auction.
This is a release of the two recordings glenn gould made of the goldberg variations technically called the aria with different variations by bach, one in 1955 which set the world alight, and the last recording he made in 1981. Two years later, he predicted in a magazine article that the public concert as we know. 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. G lenn goulds extraordinary career was bracketed by the goldberg variations. Glenn gould a state of wonder the complete goldberg. Bach the goldberg variations glenn gould 1955 youtube frederic chopin the best nocturnes in 432 hz tuning great for reading or studying. Mar 19, 2012 in 1955, at age 22, canadian pianist glenn gould signed a recording contract with columbia records and recorded the goldberg variations. A state of wonder, the 2002 sony release that paired the pianists 1955 and 1981 goldberg recordings, and the new fischer edition has. A state of wonder, the 2002 sony release that paired the pianists 1955 and 1981 goldberg recordings, and.
The goldberg variations while glenn gould s 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. Glenn gould plays bach the goldberg variations, bmv 998 zenph reperformance duration. Critic tim page talked about glenn gould, the canadian pianist who became legendary for his interpretations of bachs goldberg variations. Oct 16, 2015 listen to your favorite songs from bach. Also included are gould s fingerings and pedalings. When the recording of bachs goldberg variations by pianist glenn gould was released in 1956, it changed the entire set of expectations with which listeners approached bachs keyboard music. Cd, re, rm sony classical, sony classical, sony classical smk 52 619, smk 52619, 0105261910. Glenn gould the goldberg variations the complete unreleased recording sessions 1955 sony classical buy now. The goldberg variations is the last recording to appear in glenn gould s lifetime, completing the discographical circle that had begun so spectacularly with the same work in 1955. For comparison, on the verso pages, the book offers a traditional score of the goldberg variations or, to make.
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. Subscribe to stay up to date with all new releases on the channel. He earned widespread acclaim despite his musical idiosyncrasies, while his flamboyant stage mannerisms, as well as his hypochondria and other personal eccentricities. There and bach again the revealing new release that pairs glenn goulds goldberg variations.
He was renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard works of johann sebastian bach. Goulds fans were treated to a remake of goldbergs in 1982, when he released a slowerpaced rendition just before his untimely death. Pianist glenn gould rocketed to fame in 1955 with his startling and original take on bachs goldberg variations. Bach goldberg variations, bwv 988 1981 recording 3. Gould made a classical hit out of previously obscure works. 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. Glenn gould s exciting and careerstarting 1955 recording of js bachs goldberg variations currently exists in several versions. Glen gould recorded bachs goldberg variations for sony in 1981 on the yamaha c9 piano owned by the pianist. Sep 20, 2012 i t still sounds like nothing youve ever heard, however many times you listen to it. 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 my first goldberg variations and its still the one i listen to the most on piano that is. Johann sebastian bach, glenn gould glenn gould plays bach. The recently discovered analog reels from the legendary 1981 recording sessions for the goldberg variations have been used for this new remaster for a true analog.
Glenn goulds exciting and careerstarting 1955 recording of js bachs goldberg variations currently exists in several versions. The goldberg variations marked both the beginning and the end of gould s career the 1981 recording was the last one he made before his death after suffering a stroke the following year. Glenn gould bach the goldberg variations full vinyl 1982. An interpretation of johann sebastian bachs goldberg variations, the work launched gould s career as a renowned international pianist, and became one of the most wellknown piano recordings. First published in 1741, the work is one of the most important examples of the variation form. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Listening to the 1981 version makes me feel very much at peace.
So too is goulds famously divisive practice of humming. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Tracks 101 to 2, 302 recorded 10, 14166 1955 columbia 30th street studio, ny. At the time of goulds american debut in january 1955, the goldberg variations were.
Bach glenn gould goldberg variations bwv 988 1981 digital recording. Appropriately, the pianist also closed his studio career with a more ruminative yet still exciting version, in 1981. Goldberg variations bwv 988 the historic 1955 debut recording the 1981 digital recording. It was his first recording of the work, in 1955, that established. At the time, the piece was considered esoteric and a risky. However, both the 1955 and the 1981 recordings have since been remastered, and the second recording has been reappraised favorably. Johann sebastian bach, glenn gould the complete goldberg. The goldberg variations, bwv 988 1981 gould remastered. Selections originally produced for the canadian broadcasting corporation, 19571982. Tim page 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. Goldberg variations, bwv 988 by glenn gould on amazon.
In 1981, a year before his death, gould made a new recording of the goldberg variations. It was to become his most successful recording selling 1. The 1981 digital recording by gould, glenn from amazons classical music store. The goldberg variations 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. Listen to your favorite songs from a state of wonder. Gould s playing was distinguished by a remarkable technical proficiency and a capacity to articulate the. The 1955 felt too fast for me when i first heard it. Gould completists, however, will want this glenn gould edition transfer for two fugues recorded in 1957, drastically different from the pianists perverse remakes years later for his complete well tempered clavier book ii. The goldberg variations, bwv 988 1981 gould remastered by glenn gould on amazon music. Goldberg variations bwv 988 the historic 1955 debut recording. Any respectable piano collection, however, should include goulds debut goldbergs, at any price. Critic tim page talked about glenn gould, the canadian pianist who became.
In 1955 gould got through the work in 38 minutes, while in 1981 he took 51. Aug 27, 2002 listen to your favorite songs from bach. His 1981 recording of the goldberg variations is still recognizable as gould. Glenn goulds extraordinary career was bracketed by the goldberg variations. This transcription of glenn gould s 1981 landmark recording of johann sebastian bachs goldberg variations presents in notated form crucial aspects of gould s performance practices with regard to this piece, in particular, tempos, ornamentation, dynamics and articulations. But in the 1981 variations, gould makes good on his desire for dignity.
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