Glenn Gould (died at 50 in1982–32 years ago this past week). The Master Expressionist of Bach. A Veritable Piano Genius.
Well, a must-have for any serious Gould or Bach fan is (top-left photo) Glenn Gould: A State of Wonder–The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 & 1981 (Sony Classical Legacy 2 CD set)–his final radio interview, outtakes, and fun play-by-play comparison).
Gould was fascinated with sound and voice, and that aspect of him is splendidly covered by (bottom left) 3 sound documentaries on 3 CDs–Glenn Gould’s Solitude Trilogy issued by CBC Records.
More insights into his playing and unique, but problematic life are handsomely offered by Francois Girard and Don McKellar’s excellent film Thirty Two Short Films about Glenn Gould (Columbia Tristar Home Video) starring Colm Feore.
Also visually recommended, the excellent 10 DVD set of Sony Classical’s Glenn Gould on Television contains the complete CBC broadcasts 1954-1977. It includes “The Anatomy of the Fugue”, The Idea of North documentary, and music by Bach, Beethoven, Richard Strauss, Yehudi Menuhin, Schoenberg, and Mozart.
And next time you are in T.O., you can cuddle next to his wonderfully-sculpted-bench-likeness by Ruth Abernethy on Front St. in front of the C.B.C. building.
Yes, indeed, Glenn is still very much still with us.
Below an oldie of mine based on the Goldberg Variations, called “Variations on Goldberg”.
Slow teasing measures
there is time
teasing measures
why despair when
there is time
teasing measures?
Then run dancing joy
come with me
formal balance
up & down
see the range
counterpoint
& then
stop
And drops of
rain falling
one-two
one too many
see drops of rain
falling:
the droplets of
rain
Now measure how
slowly
they weave down-
ward slowly
the bright drops
of water:
perfection
of rain