Glenn gould s debut album of bachs goldberg variations was recorded in june 1955. I dont want to get too technical and music theory about this, so ill just say. Cbs masterworks, im 37779 1982 glenn gould discusses his performances of the goldberg variations with tim page. In 1955, at age 22, canadian pianist glenn gould signed a recording contract with columbia records and recorded the goldberg variations. Bachs goldberg variations is often considered the most ambitious composition ever written for harpsichord. Glenn gould goldberg variations 51 and 81 january 29, 2020 by jerry h. Glenn gould the goldberg variations the complete unreleased recording sessions 1955 sony classical buy now. With the purchase of a cd or vinyl record dispatched from and sold by amazon, you get 90 days free access to the amazon music unlimited individual plan. Integrale delle registrazioni bachiane glenn gould. This zenph reperformance release features new recordings of that experience specifically designed for surroundsound, stereo or headphone listening. The recording industry of the 20th century saw stars become legends and albums become icons of popular culture. Glenn gould goldberg variations analog remaster steve.
Discussion in music corner started by gallileo, jun 29. Watch glenn gould perform his last great studio recording. Glenn gould at his debut recording of bachs goldberg variations. 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. It seems like there are now 4 versions of the 1981 goldberg. It launched goulds career as a renowned international pianist, and became one. 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. 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. Goldberg variations complete unreleased recording sessions 1955. The goldberg variations is the 1955 debut album of the legendary pianist glenn gould. Johann sebastian bach, glenn gould the 1955 goldberg. Bach the goldberg variations glenn gould 1955 youtube chopin complete nocturnes brigitte engerer duration. Ive just begun some serious ab comparisons between the old ddd 1982 master and the new aad 2002 master of glenn goulds performance of the goldberg variations.
Bach wants to send us all to a colony on the moon, in g major. I prefer 1981, but maybe its just because i know it a bit longer. The goldberg variations 1981 digital recording goldberg variations. Cbs masterworks, cdn70 bonus disc released with im 37779 1982 a state of wonder.
Glenn gould the 1955 goldberg variations birth of a. Given this is now such a historic landmark, it seems strange to recall that executives at columbia had misgivings about glenn gould recording the goldberg variations. Les variations goldberg 14 par glenn gould, en 1981 hq audio sony classical bruno monsaingeon. Gould made the goldberg variations, and the goldberg variations certainly made glenn gould. 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.
Glenn gould the goldberg variations 1955 version 180. Glenn goulds 1955 recording of bachs goldberg variations marks the commercial debut for the process. The goldberg variations is the 1955 debut album of canadian. But in the 1981 variations, gould makes good on his desire for dignity. Two years later, he predicted in a magazine article that the public concert as we know. 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. Its an impressive example of musical oneupmanship so. Admittedly though this is not as easy to get into as some of bachs concertos. Yes, some of the variations have evoilved over the years, so this interpretation is as such unique when compared with the other three available commercially discussed here in june. The goldberg variations 1955 by glenn gould, johann sebastian bach from amazons classical music store. Glenn goulds first recording for columbia from 1955, playing bach as if someone had parted the curtains and thrown open the windows in a dark, stuffy room. Recording of the month stereophile, september 2007 one of the most admired classical pianists of all time, glenn gould delivers a masterful, enthralling and unorthodox performance on his debut album of bachs goldberg variations, an album that quickly became one of. Listening to the 1981 version makes me feel very much at peace. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
It was my first goldberg variations and its still the one i listen to the most on piano that is. Glenn gould gave his last public concert at the wilshire ebell theater in l. 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. And why is it that the general views are so polarised. Goldberg variations, an album by glenn gould on spotify. Glenn gould glenn gould the goldberg variations the complete unreleased recording sessions june 1955 music. Glenn gould s exciting and careerstarting 1955 recording of js bachs goldberg variations currently exists in several versions. 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. The title of this set, a state of wonder, probably would induce in glenn gould a state of hysterics, never mind that the name originates with him perhaps he was unconsciously recalling the words of the theme song to the 1960s dolphin drama flipper. 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. The album launched glenn goulds career and popularized bachs music. Just months earlier the director of columbias masterworks division, david oppenheim, had attended the 22yearold pianists new york debut on 11 january 1955, when gould. The goldberg variations is the 1955 debut album of canadian classical pianist glenn gould.
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. In 1955, a little known canadian pianist recorded the goldberg variations. The columbia lp quickly became one of the most revered piano recordings ever made and gould became the most. Glenn gould toronto, canada 19321982 was a canadian pianist most known for his. Legendary canadian pianist glenn goulds first recording was him performing bachs goldberg variations. Imagine sitting in glenn gould studio and hearing gould s brilliant 1955 performance of the goldberg variations in person. Zenph reperformance sessions recorded september 2526, 2006 at glenn gould studio, toronto, canada by the zenph project team of mikhail krishtal, anatoly larkin, peter j. An interpretation of johann sebastian bachs goldberg variations bwv 988, the work launched goulds career as a renowned international pianist, and became one of the most wellknown piano recordings. Which glenn goulds goldberg variations cd has the best. Aria from each release using adobe audition indicates some significant differences. This recording of the watershed 1955 performance of bachs aria with 30 variations better known as the goldberg variations is stunningly beautiful.
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. Glenn gould plays bach the goldberg variations, bmv 998. However, both the 1955 and the 1981 recordings have since been remastered, and the second recording has been reappraised favorably. Then, while known in canada through his concert appearances, he burst onto the international stage with his first recording, the nowlegendary 1955 version of. Glenn gould glenn gould the goldberg variations the.
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. Glenn goulds debut album of bachs goldberg variations was recorded in june 1955. So you get the music more or less as the performer would have heard it if you use. Goulds embellishments of bachs lines are written out as precisely as. A state of wonder, the 2002 sony release that paired the pianists 1955 and 1981 goldberg recordings, and the new fischer edition has. The goldberg variations, bwv 988 glenn gould, piano 1955. G lenn goulds extraordinary career was bracketed by the goldberg variations. The 1955 goldberg variations birth of a legend by johann. The goldberg variations 1955 performance zenph reperformance. The opening aria, and the closing one are 12 the speed of the 1955 version, but the remainder of the variations are not too different in overall timing, except he did perform the repeats in the 1981 version, so that the overall length is about 38 min 1955 and 53 minutes 1981 btw, perahias is 71 minutes.
Hearing glenn gould play goldberg variations anew wsj. Osbourne is right about goulds genius for illuminating counterpoint and connection between variations. This album was made shortly before the pianists premature death at age 50, so it is significant for being his last recording. Glenn goulds exciting and careerstarting 1955 recording of js bachs goldberg variations currently exists in several versions. It was his first recording of the work, in 1955, that established gould as a pianistic force of exceptional gifts.
As is almost always the case, i couldnt get a soundfield that extended in. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. It was recorded in 1955 when glenn gould was 22 years old, virtually unknown to the public except his family and friends and those privileged enough to attend his critically acclaimed new york debut earlier in the year, as well as columbia. Of the recordings i have heard so far, i have always found glenn goulds to be the most interesting. For those arguing about whether jones rightfully awarded gould the title of greatest pianist, you might be pleased to know that gould himself would have happily handed the crown to someone else. After years of enthrallment with goulds 1955 goldbergs on his 1928 steinway cd174, ive recently gone over to his incredible 1981 digital. 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. Subscribe to stay up to date with all new releases on the channel.
What i retain most of all is the aria da capo, which is taken at a slow tempo, more like the 1981 version than the 1955 version, which kind of surprised me. Gould s goldberg variations are bach as the old master himself must have played with delight in speeding like the wind, joy in squeezing beauty out of every phrase, and all the freshness of the spring water which hypochondriac gould used to wet his pipes. An interpretation of johann sebastian bachs goldberg variations bwv 988, the work. For those who dont follow classical music, stay tuned. I am a big fan of late baroque contrapuntal pieces and thus a big lover of bach. The goldberg variations glenn gould album wikipedia.
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