GLENN GOULD - Bach Cantata 54 - 1962 (2)

[misana57]

Hudba z nebes...úžasná dynamika !

[sdegrace]

superb singer!

[KV4671]

wat het ontbreekt in de uitspraak in het duits wordt ten volle gecompenseerd in muziek en daar gaat het om

[Nicksvoiceinthewild]

please avoid the sin, or I will cut off your head only if you are lucky.

oh, such is love in some high and fine place, only its not for those who can't have it..

Our world is sick by a perverse measure of love that has lacked the refinement.

Oh what joy there is in the knowledge of sin and wisdom of taking righteousness.

It's like a merry drink that is most pleasurable to the soul of the pious and the holy...

It is lacking sadly by a false vision of many souls...

Not the property of an

[Nicksvoiceinthewild]

@Nicksvoiceinthewild

part 2

an institution as it were...

If you are not in the level of it, where you can express your truer sentiment, among your loving ones, because of the dissaproval of such strong feelings about it, that you would rather put down about something that would be it.

I guess that would be it. If you felt that way about something that was important as your life, you would think about putting it down, as many positive ways.

It is somehow hard to father respect...

[pila406]

What is he playing on? Is it a piano?

Sounds weird, like harpsichord.

[ubermeister88]

@pila406 It's best described as a prepared piano, like a tack piano, accomplished probably by super hardening the hammers or some such technique which your tuner could do for you. Sometimes just soaking the hammers in "crazy glue" can achieve this; without predictable results, however. And can't be reversed, without replacing the hammers

[knipnehpets]

@Hofsteder It must obvioulsy be me, but I cannot understand how anyone can say that! Scholls version has a unadorned, almost mystical purity to it, that I think is missing from this version. And as Goulds intro implies, this work for Bach was all about religious experience and he pulled out the stops with this incredible structure unfolding from the unprecedented opening chord ...

[halloerde]

@knipnehpets Forgive me for saying this, but Scholl's version sounds like one could stand firm against sin by self-castration! Though they are all the rage today, I find vibrato-less strings, to have a eunuch-like quality. I have many problems with Gould, but at least here, I have a sense of the strength one must draw upon to resist sin. The dissonant harmonies Gould talks about, are counterponted with a steadfast rhythm. Beautiful!!

[knipnehpets]

Not at all sure that this is my favourite rendition of BWV54. I think I have to hand that award that the version of Andreas Scholl.

[rulabean]

This is swooningly gorgeous.

[Stcs94]

Wow lol i subscribe to u thinking "oh we think the same hes cool" and then u open me up to a new form of music. This right here is real music. No autotune no talking(all rap is is talking set to a beat) whered this go the last 10-12 years...and im 16 and saying this thats how u know music today is terrible

[serrano525]

fantastico

[jaystockmann]

Thank you for posting this. It is a true jewel.

[Nicolette57]

@supiluliumas15 Exactly!

[6347285]

Glenn Gould is the best. Bach shines brilliantly.

[godalex69]

Génies de l 'interprétation par Gould et de la composition par Bach. Un pur bonheur.

[kontrapunkti]

Divine!

[ilshatt]

Richter would leave the sheet music he grabbed open as it originally was,not just throw it back ;)... (0:01 to 0:13 aprox.)

[Ratzfourtyfour]

Marvellous.

[erekleification]

divine... not Gould's biggest fan but have to admit this is fabulous.

[kourosh89]

Eunuch detected.

[krokigrygg]

Bach is for me the best composer of all time....

[iguarni]

@krokigrygg I love very very much but I think LVB is unreachable. In my opinion LVB symphonies are the best masterpieces ever in music history. Funeral March of Eroica put him over all. W Bach, W Beethoven, W Mozart, W Chopin.................All the best

[cantseetheforest]

That variation of tempo in the inner section is a stroke of sheer genius...this is a wonderful interpretation, but I have to say I'm not that fond of the singer's tone. So much vibrato!

[gouldaddict]

I think no one described Gould better than George Szell: "That nut's a genius!"

[circa1907czec]

What a beautiful piece. Gould is one of a few musician who can show us absolute beauty. Thank you for posting this video.

[iamthe3rd]

the james bond of classical

[stafford4797]

wiederstehe doch der sünde

[Paiste01]

I'm speachless

[TheFasolt]

unendliches Strömen, fast nie Auflösung. Tristan läßt schon grüßen.Oberlin fast mütterlich, sehr berührend.

[repelsteeltje12345]

Very sweet. Glenn Cold is fantastic. Glenn icon in music history. Respect. Although modern interpretations of the Bach music I really do prefer.

[gigie555]

This interpretation of BWV54 is quite simply the best. Oberlin's non falsetto voice is more natural than the modern countertenor's hooting falsetto. And Gould as is typical always seems to know the correct tempo for Bach. This version conveys more passion than the more modern versions. After all when imploring other Christians to stand fast against sin, the tone should not be as one dictating to a congregation, but as a more impassioned appeal.

[sfkcbf]

@gigie555 I very much agree. The one exceptional countertenor, however, was Paul Esswood, whose warm, beautfiul voice did justice to Bach's vocal line. The two tempi in this interpretation, at least to me, make more musical sense. Unfortunately, the conductor for Esswood chose to be rather fast, relentless, and pedestrian in his interpretation; and his strings were shrill and harsh. I went tthrough the process of having the strings toned down for my own pleasure and use.

[ubermeister88]

@gigie555 I do agree with you, however it would have been good to hear him perfect his german enunciation somewhat, and finish his phrases a little better. Masterful rendition by Gould, with a very good tempo chosen, in my opinion.

[KV4671]

@gigie555

I totally agree I could'nt have said it better myself. This is sung and played by artists who understand text and music and bring Bach alive

[ry83an]

@supiluliumas15 I'll say it again: "Where they appear, religious components are integral parts of the composition (i.e., they define large- and small-scale musical structure)." The operative words are "where they appear." True, the religious elements of Bach's work are completely arbitrary; but the same could be said for every other compositional schema in Bach's contrapuntal armamentariam. Where they are present, religious elements are inalienable structural aspects of the Bach's music.

[ry83an]

@supiluliumas15 Here's my point: Because the structure of Bach's music is perforce a part of what makes it beautiful, and because the bond relating Christian influences to musical structure is inextricable in Bach's work, Bach simply wouldn't be Bach without the religious components.

[ry83an]

@ry83an I'll say this and I'll stop pontificating: Where religious components appear in Bach's oeuvre, they are necessarily part of the composition's structure or character. Accordingly, any specious division on the listener's part between religious elements and the beauty of what is heard is nonsense. To distinguish between beauty and religious components is to distinguish between beauty and structure.

[ry83an]

@supiluliumas15 In Bach, religious components are never simply extraneous elements superimposed upon the music. Where they appear, religious components are integral parts of the composition (i.e., they define large- and small-scale musical structure), and frankly, only a sophomoric dilettant would claim otherwise.

[ry83an]

@supiluliumas15 A small-scale example would be the delightful little mirror canon Christus Coronabit Crucigeros, where the plangent chromatic descent in one of the canons symbolizes the five wounds of Christ. In both examples, Christian doctrine and numerology actually define the structure and/or character of the music.

[ry83an]

@supiluliumas15 Many examples of the manifest influence of Bach's religious convictions on his output could be given. One large-scale example would be the macro-structure of the Goldberg Variations, where the number three (a number evocative of the trinity and used as a structural principle by ealier contrapuntatists) defines the number of variations and lends saliency to the canons.

[ry83an]

@supiluliumas15 "his [Bach's] religion in no way has bearing on the beauty of his music." Incorrect. Even if we disregard the fact that the subject matter here is overtly religious (and if we further disregard the fact that it is abortive to try to extricate "secular" elements from the oeuvre of a man whose worldview must have been strongly dyed by his religious convictions), it can still be said that Bach's religious beliefs had an appreciable--indeed, incontestable--influence on his music.

[RISDsdr]

Is that a harpsichord -- or a piano prepared with thumb-tacks ?

It is painful to hear Mr Oberlin -- I'd heard of him but never seen him, certainly -- after the several other more successful performances for counter-tenor that I've heard (why is this cantata the special province of the CT ?)

I grew up with Alfred Deller's c. 1960 recording, with the Leonhardt Baroque Ensemble on Vanguard/Bach Guild. Sublime -- compared to this tremulous peacock ?

[leroydav]

Tout le génie de Bach et de Gould, tous les deux en avance sur leur temps!

[iliKoy]

Yes, yes... For my to, very nice & great!

[beatlesmack9]

this is my favorite youtube video

[Bassboom26]

The greatest composer the world has ever known,His expression of truth,faith and love is unparalleled. Bach`s music is perfect.Hallelujah!Hallelujah!

[bruccheri70]

soave risveglio dei 5 sensi...un coro d'archi così armonioso ordinatamente discreto a sostener il volo fluttuante di fringuello guidati con magica umiltà dal leader pianista gentilmente presente a condurre note così libere e leggiadre...

[bruccheri70]

soave risveglio dei 5 sensi...un coro d'archi così armonioso ordinatamente discreto a sostener il volo di fluttuante di fringuello guidati con magica umiltà dal leader pianista gentilmente presente a condurre note così libere e leggiadre...

[cfromfrance]

@bruccheri70 non so che dicevi ma penso che le sue parole sano belle e musicale !

I am French and I studied Italian a little in order to understand the language of beautiful arias,so I have to confess that I don't get the exact meaning of your words, but I think they perfectly convey our feelings towards such music and such a conductor ! Thank you !

[pablodablo123]

beyond blissful and ,,,,,, and deeply

poignant as the tormented gould melts into the only place where he could be at home

[renoraider2]

@pablodablo123 beautifully put.

[RATM4LYFE]

This is as close to divine as one can get with music.

[keckvan66]

peculiar that the solo Gould plays complete opposite tempi...

[rsdmse]

I was expecting to hear a duet from Gould!

[wolfgango1991]

My favourite cantata....simply wonderful...the great Bach!

[belialah]

Glenn Gould, el interprete mas cercano a Bach que el mundo ha tenido, Dios, es un absoluto artista, un divino nacido no creado, es algo absolutamente santo, Gould honra el nombre de Dios, a la musica, a la humanidad, al arte, sin palabras...

Genial ver a un contra-tenor, ya casi no se ven, si es que no se ven del todo, GENIAL

[belialah]

There is no better human inteprtetations of Bach that Gould´s

[usertyfoon]

красиво поёт, похоже на женский голос )) и Гульд молодчина!

[SuhmMusic]

My god! When he played that opening chord, I got the goose bumps!

[Zorica12]

LOL! The singer is following Gould! It's like the singer and the ensemble are Gould's 'accompaniment' ! Haha!

[michaels7]

This is worth a million. Thanks for the posting. SUBLIME

[leroydav]

Gould et Bach forment deux génies de la musique occidentale! Oeuvre impétueuse et magistrale! Sans équivalent.

[leroydav]

Absolument sublime! Bach et Gould forment un duo d'anthologie! Cette musique est inoubliable! Un pur chef-d'oeuvre!

[mark141060]

La grande sensibilità musicale di Gould a servizio della Grandezza di Bach.

[iguarni]

@mark141060 Commento fantastico!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FRANCOPROVENZAL]

Simply amazing ! Gould and Oberlin to make you a perfect Lutherian !

[flugelcue]

Its different from what i am used to hear nowadays, nevertheless it grabs you by the throat, very moving and emotional it doesnt matter who is right or wrong if you move people like this and give them an spiritual experience wheter they are atheist or believers, you are extraordinary glenn gould was extraordinary i am glad that i can enjoy this.

[gigie555]

I'm so tired of these religious and anti religious arguments every time youtube has Bach music. Suffice to say Bach believed in God and dedicated his works for religious purposes. What more is there to say? Whether you believe in God or not is not the issue. Just listen to the music. Render unto Caesar...

[maxjamesorgans]

His introduction is so cool. Performance a bit too slow for today's standards though...

[spinoza1111]

After the rain after what she called that pain

After which a formal feeling came for her,

A formal feeling dressed all in white,

Graceful in the dance, plants, opening

Turning towards the sun.

The Rector complained that the music had naught to do

With the words.

"This is too innocent, it says there is no sin,

It says, ask the moon to forgive you,

And it will."

[0611atm]

at the beginning i got crisped, no words at all.

[counteristo]

Das ist und bleibt die beste Version. Danke

[sdegrace]

Très intense!

[silverbud]

1. Aria Alt, Streicher, Continuo

Widerstehe doch der Sünde,

Sonst ergreifet dich ihr Gift.

Lass dich nicht den Satan blenden;

Denn die Gottes Ehre schänden,

Trifft ein Fluch, der tödlich ist.

[silverbud]

2. Recitativo Alt, Continuo Die Art verruchter Sünden Ist zwar von außen wunderschön; Allein man muss Hernach mit Kummer und Verdruss Viel Ungemach empfinden. Von außen ist sie Gold; Doch will man weiter gehn, So zeigt sich nur ein leerer Schatten Und übertünchtes Grab. Sie ist den Sodomsäpfeln gleich, Und die sich mit derselben gatten, Gelangen nicht in Gottes Reich. Sie ist als wie ein scharfes Schwert, Das uns durch Leib und Seele fährt.

[silverbud]

3. Aria Alt, Streicher, Continuo

Wer Sünde tut, der ist vom Teufel,

Denn dieser hat sie aufgebracht.

Doch wenn man ihren schnöden Banden

Mit rechter Andacht widerstanden,

Hat sie sich gleich davongemacht.

[Irshkboy]

Bach could definately tap the divine. How else can we explain over 2000 works of genius like this? Its perfection in music.

[MrRowan1983]

Werkelijk waar mangifiek! sorry voor taalfouten

[MrRowan1983]

Werkelijk waar mangifiek!

[michaels7]

Sublime. Glenn Gould lived just down the street from me in a grand old art deco building with a huge terrace.

[toetchen17]

@michaels7 I did, too! But, like you, many years after he died. Mount Pleasant Cemetery is not far from there...

[roifrank17]

Bach felt most keenly most....? What is he saying there?

[lehnrik]

@roifrank17 "deeply", I think.

[roifrank17]

@lehnrik

Thanks!

[vivascargill]

Bach wrote for the glory of god--it is on all of his ms. a male soprano!

[Pogouldiwitz]

Two things:

1. There something very "alive" about this performance.

2. Very nice camerawork.

[stadaandewaal]

isaiasgarde, thank you so much for youtubing this ever so consoling piece of broadcast. the one who saved this (you?) is a visionary. real beauty surpasses everything. spiritboat

[metphmet]

Very funny video.Good (famous) musicians .

No understanding of that piece.Very dated interpretation but a nice try .

[531337]

atheists know just as much as non-atheists. claiming that god dosnt exist is arrogant, but so are claims like. "If you claim God does not exist, then you must also know the meaning of life? " why cant ppl lean to keep their mouths shut?

Ps, I love this piece =D

[bersa888]

@531337: "atheists know just as much as non-atheists" = True

"Claiming that God does not exists is arrogant" = True.

But it's also arrogant to claim that there is a God. "Extraordinary claims call for extraordinary proof".

The true non-religious thinker should say something along the lines of "I don't know how our universe exactly came about - yet ;-)".

Also, for a true non-deist our existence is meaningless, and has no purpose in life other than just being.

[elicottero]

@bersa888 and @531337

The borderline is to be (or not to be) tolerant among people thinking differently; we Christians have killed and tortured way too much in the name of Christ, maybe we should try to kill just a bit less, just a bit less to begin with...

[bersa888]

@531337: ..... but how lucky are we to have Bach's music, aren't we? :-) That would be enough for me to add "meaning" to my life. It's a personal journey after all :-)

[Kraviotho]

hahahahhaha golud Bach

love it :'D

[Kraviotho]

sorry i mean. ..gould bach

[mattmarcucci1]

Abominable pronunciation

[Irshkboy]

If you claim God does not exist, then you must also know the meaning of life? and why life exists at all. Plz tell us I, for one would love to know.

[Ramatganski]

Yes, It's good to know.

Yet isn't it even better to love?

[pianist72]

Enjoy the music...stay away from ideas about god...This is done by genius and genious only....god does not exist...period

[elvishnosebleed]

claiming there are no absolutes, which requires absolute knowledge? that's a logical contradiction.

[preruminator]

A remarkably 'modern' rendition with an American whose German diction is almost impeccable.

Thanks for posting!

[3dbaldrian]

I'm an atheist, but listening to this music, i could become weak. Just beautiful. Bach and Gould together, the perfect evangelist.:-)

[vivascargill]

I was an atheist once keep listening!

[fuinky09]

@3dbaldrian

"It may well be that some musician do not believe in God. All of them belive in Bach." (Mauricio Kagel, german-argentinian conductor and composer)

[shariotoflove]

@fuinky09 Bach believed in God, which is what matters really.

[fuinky09]

@shariotoflove I know that Bach was very religious. But you needn't to be a Christian for loving Bachs music.

[shariotoflove]

@fuinky09 im just saying, to believe in something you have to mimic its every move, adhere to it. but with love you dont have to do thats, so you cant really be believing in him.

[fuinky09]

@shariotoflove I know that Bach was very religious. But you needn't to be a Christian for loving Bachs music.

[shariotoflove]

@fuinky09 no but you need to understand that God was the main inspiration for much of his music.

[quarky1948]

@shariotoflove ....NO!...it's the music that matters. Leave imaginary gods out of it please.

[shariotoflove]

@quarky1948 well Bach certainly didnt leave out God in his work, and God certainly mattered in Bachs music. the fact that youre dismissing this really shows you know nothing about Bach's music and you should stick to Justin Beiber

[quarky1948]

@shariotoflove Listen you deluded fool...if you wish to debate the validity of religion or the existence of your invented god, I am ready willing and able! I don't need to know anything about Bach, music or sky gods to appreciate this stuff....who is Justin Beiber? WTF do you know that makes your appreciation of music so special? I'm an atheist and free to enjoy art for arts sake without the baggage of snobs....find your mind!

[cineversum]

one in a while i come back to hear this... soul's food, indeed!

[RenoRaider]

god's music.

[hendigon]

Bach is the hero here, not God.

[cskolnik1]

God is certainly not a hero, but if you don't hear God in this you don't hear Bach.

[baroque1685]

This is Heaven...

Beautifull!

[pitinbar]

Sublime la mejor versión de la Bwv 54. Gould como siempre especialista en Bach consiguió el tempo perfecto y el cantante supera muy mucho a Andreas Scholl y a otros con ese vibrato que junto a las características "maneras" de interpretación de Gould hacen de esta grabación toda una joya para nosotros los raros en este mundo de hoy.

Total, son 9 minutos de extasis ¡¡¡¡¡

Bravo con B de Bach en único.

[universalstrength]

thats a dude?? 0.o

[hectorianus]

La voz de Oberlin suena tan natural que acompaña la deliciosa música como anillo al dedo. Haciendo comparaciones, (son odiosas)prefiero la interpretación de Oberlin a la de Andreas Scholl, cuya presencia se nota tal vez demasiado. Tenía Bach que haber vivido eternamente.

[lucamadeus]

supernatural music, extatic performance

[JohnThePetru]

Is this video on a DVD or something similar?

Any info will be appreciated :-)

[mamadeus081]

It is available On VHS titled "The Glenn Gould Collection; The Conductor". I am not sure if it has been released on DVD yet

[Angusgirl6]

Heavenly! Does anyone know if Glenn Gould is playing on CD 318 here?

[cmtmusik]

Why does the piano is with that sound?

[GBV1961]

che meraviglia!!!!!

[klinsha8]

Don't tell such silly things, my son. GO and search something about OBERLIN.

[luminoceanne]

there is no human words to say...something divine...

[iguarni]

@luminoceanne BACH IS A PURE MANKIND'S GENIUS!!!!!!!

[SebastienLoong]

@luminoceanne Couldn't have put it any better :)

[TheLonelyImmortal]

@luminoceanne Get a better vocabulary.

[peterdewitt]

This music is so sublime!

[lailashamus]

I cry listening to this, thanks!!

[luminoceanne]

me also !......

[kalimur]

nothing more great

[jfhaight2]

Gould's insights into the tension created by the dissonances is accurate. At this tempo, the repeated notes, against the dissonances, do give the idea of steadfastness against the temptations of sin that Bach intends, especially the constant return from other rhythms. Do modern Baroque (bankrupt?) performances do this? I suspect my comments may draw more ire than the X rated stuff posted!

[jfhaight2]

I agree with arimatias07. Bach is far more powerful than Ton (deaf) Koopman would have us believe. Gould, despite his eccentricities(sometimes unlistenable), at least, is emotionally involved at every step. Vibratoless performances(strings and voice)can be very detached, or, if you will, castrated!

[livre333]

My God =,)

[oneginee]

first movment reminds me of the prelude from the french suite in Eb for keyboard.

[firebreathone]

This is not a baroque performance. Too much vibrato and my god the dudes voice is awful.

i suggest you listen to Koopman or Herrewege's version!

[Winge42]

I agree about the loftiness. The recording by Herreweghe and Scholl is not bad at all, but I think their performance of the first movement is way too fast. Gould's tempo is much more sensible.

[pobinr]

This is as lofty as music can be. I'd only heard Herrewegha & Scholl till now.

[kalimur]

nothing of more great

[kalimur]

i heard that when i was very young. it was a greatest think, because every time i heard some bach music never heard is a great think. after i would like to heard that an other time but i did not remember the name of the cantata. today i find it. very very thks

[piero13004]

a rare voice & a genius of bach...pure pleasure thanks You TUbe

[unalegeli]

thanks god

[muffinman840]

did someone just kick him in the balls?

[shariotoflove]

is he a counter tenor

[DeRevolutionibus]

yes, Oberlin is one of the great countertenors.

[skyintheirhair]

I don't like the cold sound of piano but I do like harpshichord music.

[FriendlyCroock]

it`s a harpshichord not a piano

[fsharpmajor]

It's not a harpsichord, it's a Steinway Grand Piano. Look at it carefully.

[Handel3]

it is a harpsichord I have one , some of the new harpsichords are made to look like pianos instead of the normal 4 octaves I have 7.5 it does add harmony to the sound, but no music for the extra strings !

[pedantologist]

It's called a harpsipiano! It has metal on the hammers to simulate the sound of a harpsichord, but is still a piano with the ability to do crescendos and other dynamic things etc.

[FriendlyCroock]

It's a harpsipiano

[morindhe]

Ever noticed how, when Gould's swallowed up in an orchestra, his Bach turns maudlin - and even boring? Worse, he's *leading* one here.

[martykoll]

Lovely, lovely, lovely! Beautifully sung and played.

Thanks so much for sharing!