Glenn Gould - Bach - BWV 828 - 1 - Ouverture

[spinoza1111]

"It was all

Shining, it was Adam and maiden"

- Dylan Thomas, Fern Hill

[TheMrknownothing]

You know how you take a picture to the barber and say, "I want my hair to look like this"? Well I showed this to my piano teacher and said, "I want to sound like this"

Best performance of this piece ever! Thank you Bach, Gould, and jormungard.

[96oldie]

Absolutely incredible!

I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes.

[antimatterXXXIII]

The chair he's sitting in would creak and groan during his playing, causing no end of hair-pulling from his audio engineers..

[meredith218461]

Like or loathe his unique style - HE'S NEVER BORING!

[heyaidkwhut]

And dont get on me for calling it a song...tired of that shit around here

[heyaidkwhut]

This song is a roller-coaster :)

[alienwareufo]

Wow!

[Samoriah]

I don't know what you guys are going on about. Most of gould's recordings have absolutely no character. I can't listen to his goldberg variations at all. I do admit that he has a lot of talent, and this performance is spectacular, but he is definitely not the best interpreter of bach.

[TheBarbaciano]

@Samoriah Of course, it's a matter of taste. But please remember that when there is some pianist trying to play Bach, the model to match is ALWAYS Gould. Who d'you think is better than Gould playing the Goldbergs? Schiff? Landowska? Baremboim? Who do you listen to?

[str3123]

Absolutelly incredible!

[Sylvain894]

It's great what they say about GG now that he's gone ! It certainly gives you the shivers to try at your turn playing Bach and Beethoven; anyone who appreciates this music and wants to reach GG perfection cannot do wrong !! Yours to astonish the real world and to get a real piano play experience !

[str3123]

@sauvignina man, you just got the spot about classical music. Most of modern music can't even be compared to what has been written in the past (from 1200 to 1980) but even those who are playing it doesn't understand what's beauty about music. Gould was absolutely the last genius on the planet.

[yusukeundisolde]

danke!

[BrigitC1]

@Th0masWarner

We agree. Gould always did things his own way, not just piano. Too bad he died at 50. He would have been a terrific conductor.

I will check out Celibidache. Thanks for the tip!

[BrigitC1]

@Th0masWarner

If you want to rediscover your love of Gould revisit his Bach concertos. Yes, the "pulse" as you describe it is definitely part of the attraction, but for me his playing is so perfect (and so perfectly soulful) as to be almost unearthly. I also happen to like the humming.

[BrigitC1]

Gould is Bach's spirit made flesh. Can anyone watch this and not be entralled?

[nnamffohsaile]

one of the greatest moments in the history of music making

[ritamargherita]

What a genius! To think that every piano teacher would hit you with a score of the complete Bach partitas if you slouched around on the piano like that.... ;p

[Irshkboy]

He never had hand problems. He thought he had all sorts of things wrong with him. But the autopsy proved they were all in his head. He was a hypocondriac, and he had severe mental and emotional problems. But non the less, he was an absolute genius at piano, and had a memory that goes beyond photographic. Prescription drugs and not eating healthy, and no exercise for years, is what killed him in the end. Canada and the world lost a treasure.

[KABRIS1]

@sauvignina Gould and Bach are one.

[FutureAbe]

he's so amazing!!

[TheSingingCello]

@sauvignina haha it's okay. Gould's unique, definatly. He was to any degree a "master" of the art, probably more so than 90% of any other pianist before him. A lot of the works he does, especially in the realm of Bach and other things dealing with similar harmonies and counterpoint, Gould takes into his own liberty the means of expressing the music, often times changing the notes or instructions from what was written. He in a way earns this right through his playing and interpretation. :)

[TheBarbaciano]

@sauvignina Glenn is THE MASTER for JS Bach (and Bach is the MASTER of all composers). Glenn's recording are unique. All of them. The clean, sharp, poignant, no-reverb sound of Glenn is unique, like no other. Some of the times he plays faster than your mind! Glenn has Bach in his ADN.

[stefano975]

still the hummung is.... making it difficult to 100% enjoy..

[Max0Inq]

@stefano975 I would say I just the opposite.

[MrRinaldo83]

What is the date of this recording?



[TheBarbaciano]

@MrRinaldo83 It was recorded in Italy for the RAI. This was some months before his death. So I think this would be probably 1981, if I remember well... Incredible that he can play like this even with his hand problems... a genius, as said.

[MrRinaldo83]

@TheBarbaciano Thank you very much!

[bidouxleverdeterre]

@TheBarbaciano Do you think there is a CD of this recording? I have a version of the partita n°4 by Glenn Gould,but it seems to be much earlier than 1981, and it doesn't sound like this one.

[TheBarbaciano]

@bidouxleverdeterre I don't know, but I think that the answer is no, there is no CD edition. If I remember well, this is a DVD the RAI released in the early 80s... I have all the CDs by Glenn published by SONY BMG and in vinil by COLUMBIA. The Number 4 partita is also marvellous in these Cds... Maybe the only difference here is to see Glenn playing Bach this as if he was doing something easy to do, pls let me know if you find that in CD.- Greetings from Barcelona - TheB

[bidouxleverdeterre]

@TheBarbaciano Thank you for the answer.

[MrRinaldo83]

Simply awesome!!!!

[Irshkboy]

J. S. Bach - Partita n. 4 in D Major BWV 828 - 1. Ouverture (1/7) by trevor Pinnock. Fast forward to 3.00 and see what I man about the difference. Put on you headphones and play it loud. The harpsichord will cut right through you=)

[alienalienss]

@Irshkboy Pinnock and Gould are both masters of their instruments. I love both performances.

[Irshkboy]

Gould is the master bach player no doubt, but check out trevor pinnokks version on t6he harpschord, it is slower but it really brings out the main theme. Gould runs it over a little too fast

[gonrolgonrol]

@sauvignina It is true. Almost every piece can sound great og terrible with the right/wrong pianist.

[ivanoschen]

Simply great.

[albagutierrez56]

wow just closed my eyes and let go and i'm flying, listening this music,,love it !!!! thanks for posting,xx

[hedones]

ça déchire pas mal, tout de même... lorsque la machine à coudre est partie, plus rien ne peut l'arrêter.

[TheBarbaciano]

@sauvignina : there are other great interpreters of Bach, like Hewitt, Argerich, Richter, Milá, Koriolov, Goulda, Barenboim etc, and they're all great but, damn, Glenn is... is... unique. Every note of Glenn playing Bach is coming out the center of his heart and beat you in the center of your heart... nobody today can even compare with him... HE is Bach himself...

[VenancioPineda]

The more I hear this piece played by Trevor Pinnock the less I like Goulds interpretation with too much sweet decorations and no rhythm.

[meats0]

This interpretation of this piece seems to be somewhat of a throwback to his early style of approaching Bach. His other recording for the CBC is slower and more patient; this one harkens back to his breakneck style of playing. Both are interesting though.

[Bastro3000]

it's the first time I hear this piece. Very beautiful. Bach has always been my favourite!

[jazzpsalti]

this overture unveils Glenn Gould and Trevor Pinnock as TITANS of Baroque interpretation. Two *totally* different ways to interpret this movement

[javierpe9103]

no se cuantas veces he escuchado esta version glould y siempre suena fresca y maravillosa, las otras versiones dañan mucho la frescura y el dinamismo magico que bach imprimio en sus obras

[Libellebr]

BWV 828 + GG = perfection

[Libellebr]

@Libellebr + that piano.

[Stehnz]

dont forget the chair

[TheBarbaciano]

With this two, GG and JSB, the wonder never ends...

[TheBarbaciano]

Bach music makes me think that life is worth living. For me, Bach is music, all the rest is not. And Glenn... well, he is always marvellous, he has class, taste, brain and guts... when he plays Bach is the only music that (sometimes) makes me cry... sorry for my english, it's not my motherlanguaje...

[ettml]

i read that during the time of this recording, gould had serious problems with his hands, but this is surely one of his best performances!

[evittspde]

I watched Glenn rehearse this once at the old Eaton auditoriunm, when I was a teenager usher . The only musical experience I can compare: Ashkenazy practicing "God Save The Queen" in Eaton Auditorium, Toronto, with an audience of his famiy and a bunch of auditorium bums. Ashkenazy made the piece Polish and Brahmsian.

[RenoRaider]

@evittspde did you get to talk to him?

[SVG4ever]

unbelievable...

[sprygeoffreya17]

And,...on top of everything else Glenn had, and could do so well, was that totaly natural gift, you gotta be born with, charisma. Presence. Charm.

[kenkim5]

this is so balls to the wall..i love it!!

[mercoid]

He can over throw any convictions one might adhere to regarding "authentic performance" practice. If you just open your mind and hart a little. I am not a musical professional, but I have yet to hear a legitimate argument against Gould.

[GoatDaddyVersion2]

Exquisite!

[kepler101]

this is better then the recording

[kenkim5]

i agree and i really think he was feeling exceptionally good on this particular day.

[JayIvory87]

Bach reincarnated in Glenn Gould? possibly

[skiandre]

Mr Bach should lhoavte him

[joyleemorr]

What's lhoavte mean?

[skiandre]

it means love and hate together

[serene06]

HE IS CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[goldberg72]

crazy genius!

[Kurtyoungblood]

You can just hear the tension, see the electricity in his hands.

[javierpe9103]

wowowowowow magic

[vespersinblue]

Beyond perfection !

[member2798]

yeah, Glen Gould is definitely a "crazy genius" as you said, and one of the most unique pianists ever. His interpretations got me into Bach, so I'm glad he reaches you too. He's definitely on another planet when he plays.

[Kurtyoungblood]

BACH IS GREAT.

[kph2105]

Exactly!

[KyotoMelody]

Thank you so much!

[natber27]

is he humming along?

[jg33brunner]

Yes, he is... that is part of the Gould/Bach combo, but MMMMmmmmMMM...MMmmm, doesn´t it taste good!?! But don´t say you don´t like it, or else the big bad wolf will come and eat you up. This guy would look great in great big pair of fury Werewolf ears....

[Irshkboy]

It took me 4 times to get through this piece, but finally when I did, its now one of my favorite Bach/ Gould combinations

[ernent]

Gould is for me an obligatory second performance where in many cases i havn't bothered to purchase the first ...

[jazzpsalti]

you know, at first I didn't like this... I didn't like the staccato and measured runs. Usually those are done as flourishes (probably taking after Pinnock's awesome recordings of these partitas), but after the third or fourth one, I was hooked. DAMN YOU GOULD!!! Nothing he does sounds bad

[greenalphabet]

Gould is alive

[ahilacat26]

Sorry mate, Gould's dead now.

[mishima1974]

Its possible that he faked his own death and is living somewhere in N. Canada as a hermit.

Nobody had more reason to fake their own death than did Gould. He loved solitude and hated people.

[livekillers]

What he hated people?if you watch his documentaries he always call people at middle of the night and talk for 4 straight hours he even post an ad title "wanted a conversationist"

[mishima1974]

He had a few people that he called, yes. A friend of mine was one of them.

Glenn used the phone because it was easier than dealing with people in person. The phone allowed him to call whomever he wanted whenever he wanted.

And the conversations were completely one-sided. Glenn spoke and people like my friend listened.

He even admitted that he preferred the company of animals to people.

Oh, yes. Glenn Gould didn't care for human beings. He just wanted thier praise.

[ahilacat26]

Brilliant! Highly masterful & incomparable in its eccentricity.

[natber27]

I'm not an expert but this is so crisp and clean. I can actually hear what's going on! This is great. This inspires me to start learning this piece.

[DivaLauri]

Wonderful, wonderful! Makes me shiver, cry and laugh all at once. Nothing compares.

[phil00005]

wow gould was a real virtuoso no one can play bach better then him

[munkybrain]

i'm not a piano expert really but doesn't this instrument sound different to most Steinways? why would that be? sounds wonderful, however, and more suited to Bach.

i can almost feel the action :-)

[jspayton]

Gould was always trying to get Steinway to make pianos for him that were to his personal liking and that he thought would make music sound as he interpreted it.

[SANPH]

Gould extensively modified the action on the steinways he used for recording, making it more shallow. He believed that kind of action was imperative in order to play Bach's keyboard works.

[Irshkboy]

NO ONE CAN PLAY BETTER!!!!!!!, ITS my favorite bach/gould piece=)

[trevjr]

Wow the Allegro is faster than the studio recording! Such purity! Such perfection! Wow Wow. It just dances, I love this piece and Gould makes it sing like no other in the world. We are not worthy to judge Bach or Gould, I agree.

[filthysoap]

hahhahahahahahha

[DanSandwich]

man... lay off the weed

[ruben1956]

yeah, you're right! But the sun and the stars and all that quite nice

[silentplummet]

He is a man whose technical capabilities afford him perfect freedom in his artistic exploration.

The Sony classics recording of this piece sounds like the sun rising over a peaceful world, and this recording sounds like the stars shining in the night sky. Unbelievable.

[diftorhehsmusma]

Beautiful, as always.

I love this piano, too. It suits Gould's particular way of playing Bach very nicely -- crisp, clear, and lovely.

[infernobegins]

Magnificent! Beautiful.

[yukily07]

My too far most favorite ouverture of Bach's clavier works. I(s Gould's recording which made me "discover" this piece. Because he dis-covers, yes, taking away all ornaments and decorative little tunes pervades in this brilliant piece. He extracts from there a pure harmonic structure and creates an utmost pure emotion. Seeing his video with this music fulfills me of joy. Thank you so much!

[smolotov67]

this interpetation is taken from the first part of "Glenn Gould plays Bach", a documentary by Bruno Monsaingeon in 3 parts. Unfortunately, only the last film (the goldberg variations) is available on DVD... It's really unfortunate because the first two parts contain maybe some of the bests moments of Gould in video, like this partita and the last fugue of the art of the fugue...

[metallherz123]

glenn gould at his best caught on camera!

[pianoplayersean]

I dont know where you found this, but its awesome. Its amazing how different the interpretation is from his earlier recording. Thanks for the post.

[JSBachLover]

I favor his later interpretations in most of his recordings...they seem more reflective.

[Poojoj]

I always loved this recording of the partita. Thanks so much for posting this.

[streek23]

I find that Gould's recording of this partita ouverture in the early 1960s is much less idiosyncratic than this later recording. I think the other is more powerful and uplifting. Still, thanks for this video; watching Gould and comparing his various recordings is always fascinating.

[88Woland]

Creative and intense as always with GG! Love it. Thank you very much for posting