glenn is really working on my brains evry time i listen to this singular and one and only performance, i never new there was a vid for 20 years, BACH, very rare and special, carries me to the third space, i love the humming, my brother used to play the zweistimmige inventionen, he was really good too.
Oh, how I would love to see a video recording of his 1955 interpretation. Wishful thinking, of course, but just imagine it! Perhaps in another life? This is magical, though. Only a Glenn Gould could - or would possess the self-confidence to - completely reappraise a piece like the 'Goldberg Variations' and, for the second time in his career, put his individual stamp on it, especially given the 'benchmark' status of his original recording. What a wonderful creative spirit; alas, gone too soon, but what a legacy!
Aria: 0:00 Var. 1. a 1 Clav.: 2:53 Var. 2. a 1 Clav.: 4:03 Var. 3. Canone all'Unisono. a 1 Clav.: 4:53 Var. 4. a 1 Clav.: 6:24 Var. 5. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.: 7:14 Var. 6. Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav.: 7:50 Var. 7. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. al tempo di Giga: 8:31 Var. 8. a 2 Clav.: 9:49 Var. 9. Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav.: 10:42 Var. 10. Fughetta. a 1 Clav.: 11:41 Var. 11. a 2 Clav.: 12:45 Var. 12. a 1 Clav. Canone alla Quarta in moto contrario: 13:38 Var. 13. a 2 Clav.: 15:15 Var. 14. a 2 Clav.: 17:53 Var. 15. Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav.: Andante: 18:58 Var. 16. Ouverture. a 1 Clav.: 23:59 Var. 17. a 2 Clav.: 25:38 Var. 18. Canone alla Sesta. a 1 Clav.: 26:32 Var. 19. a 1 Clav.: 27:36 Var. 20. a 2 Clav.: 28:39 Var. 21. Canone alla Settima: 29:29 Var. 22. a 1 Clav. alla breve: 31:43 Var. 23. a 2 Clav.: 32:46 Var. 24. Canone all'Ottava. a 1 Clav.: 33:45 Var. 25. a 2 Clav.: Adagio: 35:27 Var. 26. a 2 Clav.: 41:27 Var. 27. Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav.: 42:19 Var. 28. a 2 Clav.: 43:40 Var. 29. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.: 44:44 Var. 30. a 1 Clav. Quodlibet: 45:46 Aria da Capo: 47:16 Thank you ! It was at the beginning of my music studies when we young students put on the record of Glenn's Goldberg Variations recorded in 1981 - we listened to it over and over for weeks - and just couldn't believe it...
The Canons: Var. 3. Canone all'Unisono. a 1 Clav.: 4:53 Var. 6. Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav.: 7:50 Var. 9. Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav.: 10:42 Var. 12. a 1 Clav. Canone alla Quarta in moto contrario: 13:38 Var. 15. Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav.: Andante: 18:58 Var. 18. Canone alla Sesta. a 1 Clav.: 26:32 Var. 21. Canone alla Settima: 29:29 Var. 24. Canone all'Ottava. a 1 Clav.: 33:45 Var. 27. Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav.: 42:19
At 41:48, he displayed the best technical playing I've seen on the piano. There is such an aesthetic in the way he gracefully utilizes this hand-over-hand technique without missing a beat. This is way beyond any advanced level. I just don't see this kind of playing anymore; such poise and precision, it's downright sick! As in truly inspiring.
this was really right before his death...one wonders if he knew somehow that he was nearing the end...this was one last opportunity to give, to really say something, before he left. A magnificent recording. RIP
I came across this whisper from Heaven during Hannibal's escape at the terminus of The Silence of the Lambs, as it's the soundtrack he has to set the mood while he cuts off Sgt. Pembry's face, when he can see that unimaginably horrific act will reward him with his freedom, as well as pay homage to the Red Dragon. "Ready when you are...."
That's typical Hollywood using an almost sacred piece of music in an gore/horror/non-sacred context (yeah, i know these pieces are secular, but I think the counterpoint and creativity is 100% divine inspired). I must admit I was also happy to hear the aria in that movie, though. I'm always happy when movies use Bach's pieces.
