Glenn Gould

Music For The Day

Samuel HooperLeave a comment

Variation XV of “The Goldberg Variations” by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), performed here by Rosalyn Tureck, one of my very favourite Bach interpreters aside from the peerless Glenn Gould:

 

This recording dates from 1957, which is just after Gould made his historic 1955 recording for Colombia Records. However, you will find no influence of Gould in Rosalyn Tureck’s interpretation here. Very classical, with a smoky, melancholy, romantic, almost Victorian hue. And, of course, played much slower and with all of the repeats.

Music For The Day

Samuel HooperLeave a comment

“Fantasy in C” by Orlando Gibbons, performed here on the piano by Glenn Gould:

 

This piece always reminds me of New York. I first heard it while listening to Glenn Gould’s “Great Pianists of the 20th Century” album on the sample headphones at a Barnes & Noble store somewhere near Chinatown, a decade ago, after having walked all the way downtown from my cheap, two-star hotel.

The liner notes to this CD, if I recall correctly (and I’m paraphrasing here), pay homage to Gould’s plausible, natural “English accent” when playing the pieces from this release. Listening again now, it’s hard to disagree.

Music For The Day

Samuel Hooper3 Comments

Grieg Piano Sonata in E Minor, Op 7, second movement, performed by Glenn Gould:

 

Those final falling chords at the end of the movement (and the sense of stillness and reflection that they create) are rendered beautifully in this recording by Gould.

The whole sonata is well worth a listen.

Happy Friday, everyone.

Music For The Day

Samuel HooperLeave a comment

Bach Keyboard Concerto in D Minor BWV 1052, performed by Glenn Gould and the Ottawa Philharmonic under the direction of Thomas Meyer:

 

I wish I could get hold of a complete version of the Gould/Bernstein/NYPO video recording, if it exists.

Music For The Day

Samuel HooperLeave a comment

A fine example of Brahms playing today from Stephen Hough and the Budapest Festival Orchestra. This is an extended excerpt from the second movement of Brahm’s first piano concerto.

 

The slow buildup beginning with the restatement of the first theme by the orchestra at 3’36, leading up to those great glacial piano chords at 5’20 is especially well done here.

I have always been most partial to the Glenn Gould (live at Carnegie Hall with the NYPO) and Emil Gilels (studio) recordings of this work, but judging from the second movement alone in this video, Hough’s performance is right up there with those greats.