Oct 16, 2015 listen to your favorite songs from bach. Then, while known in canada through his concert appearances, he burst onto the international stage with his first recording, the nowlegendary 1955 version of the goldberg variations. Glenn gould plays bach the goldberg variations, bmv 998. Gould made the goldberg variations, and the goldberg variations certainly made glenn gould. Zenph studios glenn goulds bach goldberg variations. It launched gould s career as a renowned international pianist, and became one of the most wellknown piano recordings. Cbs masterworks, cdn70 bonus disc released with im 37779 1982 a state of wonder. Completed in a total of only four days and released in january 1956, glenn gould s debut recording of bach s goldberg variations is without doubt one of the most significant and successful classical recordings in the history of the gramophone record. Glenn gould the 1955 goldberg variations birth of a. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A state of wonder, the 2002 sony release that paired the pianists 1955 and 1981 goldberg recordings, and the new fischer edition has. Why did glenn gould hum quietly in his recording of 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. Just months earlier the director of columbias masterworks division, david oppenheim, had attended the 22yearold pianists new york. Program notes in english with german and french translations 22 p. G lenn goulds extraordinary career was bracketed by the goldberg variations. Jul 28, 2014 goldberg variations, an audio recording conducted by glenn gould with the original handwritten scores of j.
This zenph reperformance release features new recordings of that experience specifically designed for surroundsound, stereo or headphone listening. It seems like there are now 4 versions of the 1981 goldberg. Download bach glenn gould the goldberg variations 1955 recording mp3, flac album free. Yet as devoted as many of goulds followers are to his debut columbia recording, the majority would probably be satisfied with the standard release, either. 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 had. 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 the most revered piano recordings ever made. Of the recordings i have heard so far, i have always found glenn goulds to be the most interesting. Also with the goldberg variations you have to consider them both as a whole and individually as a whole the 1955 recording is only slightly shorter in duration. 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 al. Goldberg variations, bwv 988 the historic 1955 debut. Legendary canadian pianist glenn goulds first recording was him performing bachs goldberg variations. I am a big fan of late baroque contrapuntal pieces and thus a big lover of bach.
Stream the 1955 goldberg variations birth of a legend by glenn gould and tens of millions of other songs on all your devices with amazon music unlimited. It launched goulds career as a renowned international pianist, and became one of the most wellknown piano recordings. Jul 03, 20 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. Subscribe to stay up to date with all new releases on the channel. Glenn gould s exciting and careerstarting 1955 recording of js bachs goldberg variations currently exists in several versions. This transcription of glenn goulds 1981 landmark recording of johann sebastian bachs goldberg variations presents in notated form crucial aspects of goulds performance practices with regard to this piece, in particular, tempos, ornamentation, dynamics and articulations. 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. 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. It was my first goldberg variations and its still the one i listen to the most on piano that is. Discussion in music corner started by gallileo, jun 29. And why is it that the general views are so polarised.
Glenn gould 1955 goldberg variations for live performance lx. 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. Glenn gould gave his last public concert at the wilshire ebell theater in l. His speed, dexterity and tone revolutionized the understanding of this piece and it became inextricably linked. The goldberg variations 1955 recording glenn gould. Glenn goulds humming on his recordings is universally known and has been for something like 40 years. I shared this elsewhere on quora, but when john mcclure asked him about the function of the.
This recording of the watershed 1955 performance of bachs aria with 30 variations better known as the goldberg variations is stunningly beautiful. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Jun 05, 2016 tim was the project consultant for glenn gould. The album launched glenn goulds career and popularized bachs music. Goldberg variations bwv 988 the historic 1955 debut recording label. It features glenn gould s complete recording sessions of bach s goldberg variations on 5 cds including the studio conversations between him and his producer, restored from the original. Js bach original handwritten scores goldberg variations. Bach glenn gould goldberg variations bwv 988 discogs. Were adding this vintage clip to our culture icons collection, which features great artists and thinkers captured in original video and audio. A reperformance of glenn gould s famous 1955 mono rendition of bachs goldberg variations played at the yamaha piano studios in new york on march 7. I prefer 1981, but maybe its just because i know it a bit longer. Heres the studio video shot when glenn gould recorded bachs goldberg variations in 1981.
Oct 25, 2017 in 1955, a little known canadian pianist recorded the goldberg variations. Glenn gould s historic 1955 recording of johann sebastian bachs goldberg variations is one of the most famous recordings of the 20th century, and it has held a nearly mystical power over fans that has only added to its legend. The goldberg variations 45 1955 complete by glenn gould. 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. 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. 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. A state of wonder, the 2002 sony release that paired the pianists 1955 and 1981 goldberg. An unknown variation on the goldberg glenn gould interviews. In 1955, a little known canadian pianist recorded the goldberg variations. Goldberg variations, an album by glenn gould on spotify. Glenn goulds historic 1955 recording of johann sebastian bachs goldberg variations is one of the most famous recordings of the 20th century, and it has held a nearly mystical power over fans that has only added to its legend. Imagine sitting in glenn gould studio and hearing goulds brilliant 1955 performance of the goldberg variations in person. The goldberg variations glenn gould album wikipedia.
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. One such story highlights glenns enthusiastic and spontaneous personality. Also since youre talking about glenn goulds interpretations youre talking about unusual or eccentric styles of playing. Bachs goldberg variations is often considered the most ambitious composition ever written for harpsichord. The goldberg variations 1981 digital recording goldberg variations. The career of the singular and idiosyncratic pianist glenn gould is probably best defined by his two recordings of bachs goldberg variations. Glenn goulds 1955 recording of bachs goldberg variations marks the commercial debut for the process. The album launched glenn gould s career and popularized bachs music. Did glenn gould play goldberg variations too fast in 1955.
The first, his majorlabel debut recorded in 1955, was gould s breakthrough. Glenn gould, goldberg variations, 1981 by ilbersagliere. The goldberg variations is the 1955 debut album of canadian classical pianist glenn gould. The recording industry of the 20th century saw stars become legends and albums become icons of popular culture. However, both the 1955 and the 1981 recordings have since been remastered, and the second recording has been reappraised favorably. It wasnt just on his recordings of the goldberg variations, by the way. Tmad glenn gould interviews cbc circa 1957 by rick maltese. Is that glenn goulds voice in the background on my bach.
Glenn gould the goldberg variations the complete unreleased recording sessions 1955 sony classical buy now. Johann sebastian bach, glenn gould the 1955 goldberg. Glenn gould can be heard humming on numerous recordings, some louder than others. 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. The goldberg variations is the 1955 debut album of the legendary pianist glenn gould.
Two years later, he predicted in a magazine article that the public concert as we know. Glenn gould s 1955 recording of bachs goldberg variations marks the commercial debut for the process. Glenn goulds the goldberg variations 1981 history of. Jan, 2018 it wasnt just on his recordings of the goldberg variations, by the way. Although gould had a way to justify every decision he made. Hearing glenn gould play goldberg variations anew wsj. 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. Oct 29, 2019 goldberg variation tutorial series piano lessons via skype test your sightreading skill. Nov 06, 2010 les variations goldberg 14 par glenn gould, en 1981 hq audio sony classical bruno monsaingeon. Glenn gould glenn gould the goldberg variations the. In the 1950s glenn was very friendly with a variety of musicians and artists in the city of. Which glenn goulds goldberg variations cd has the best.
Goldberg variations, bwv 988 by glenn gould on amazon. But in the 1981 variations, gould makes good on his desire for dignity. Glenn gould glenn gould the goldberg variations discogs. J s bach goldberg variations glenn gould a goodmusic. 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 s debut album of bachs goldberg variations was recorded in june 1955.
Within the sphere of this masterpiece there are some fascinating stories. Now the complete recording sessions have been issued. 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. 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. Mar 26, 2017 but in the 1981 variations, gould makes good on his desire for dignity. Goldberg variations, an audio recording conducted by glenn gould with the original handwritten scores of j. Gould s first performance to receive widespread attention was his 1955 recording of bachs goldberg variations. The goldberg variations 1955 by glenn gould, johann sebastian bach from amazons classical music store. Cbs masterworks, im 37779 1982 glenn gould discusses his performances of the goldberg variations with tim page.
His speed, dexterity and tone revolutionized the understanding of this. There are so many versions of the goldberg variations out there on so many different lps and digital discs that are truly wonderful that to deliberately choose gould is to choose humming along with great playing. 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. It was his first recording of the work, in 1955, that established gould as a pianistic force of exceptional gifts. Goulds first performance to receive widespread attention was his 1955 recording of bachs goldberg variations. 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. Glenn goulds 1955 recording of bachs goldberg variations remains one of the best selling classical recordings in the history of music. Imagine sitting in glenn gould studio and hearing gould s brilliant 1955 performance of the goldberg variations in person. Bach, glenn gould, sony 1955 and 1981 ive been coming back to glenn goulds two recordings of the goldberg variations time and again for over 20 years now. 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.
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