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