Beethoven Variationen Op.34 Gould

[Sylvain894]

GG seems so undistractable; anyone who would approach the artist physically was not borned. What a painful situation he seems to endure !

[dShando1]

FUCK JUSTIN BIEBER

[camileludwig]

To differences of other recordings, Gould does that the time happens more rapid. His interpretation is so surrounding that one does not realize since the time has happened

[camileludwig]

EXCELLENT!!! A great work...a great pianist :)

[surola]

it is so great.

[contengaletras]

...gracias!

[Jamesgs007]

What an amazing performance from Gould.

It seems that the piano can talk when he plays.

So much emotion and control in his playing.

Thanks a lot for posting this great video.

[innerartsjourneys]

I hope to play this in recital next year and am grateful for YouTube and Juan for posting it...A treasure, legacy and Inspiration!

[wnxg4nd4lf]

Words arent enough to describe how much i like this one. I'll just say that i'm very happy and grateful to have listened to such divine music.

[Aristophane]

Merveille des merveilles... Beethoven doit pleurer de joie ce soir...

;)

[honghongbcc]

Every piece of music goes through Gould's mind tens of thousand of times. He analysis all of them not on the keyboardin but on his mind. If you like Gould and watch him play, sometimes he would even look away at the keyboard. Technique is not a question, what is in his mind is. However, even as good a pianist as Gould is (probably the best ever) getting what is in his mind to the keyboard is something else. This is painful to him. That is why he has to hum the music he plays

Luv him, the BEST

[Haydenbrooks83]

I hate his humming.

[wolffrankenstein]

Has nobody argued with you yet? Wow. Generally saying anything bad about Gould in response to one of his videos is either a troll goldmine, or like the act of stepping in front of a bus driven psychopaths.

[Haydenbrooks83]

Not really. I don't normally listen to his videos. I have heard about his infamous humming before though and now I have heard it.

[dopeywonder]

ha- ninja

[onormichi]

If your feeling ecleptic check out "nesian girl" by adeaze, awesome oh than you have to check out Love of my life" by queen as wellas" Death on two legs" by queen oh and good company by queen too sorry for the illiteracy Im slightly retarded but goog music is good music

[BMWmotorrad14]

Glenn Gould is a ninja - 5:06

[kajohada]

hahaha...tell me,what a "ninja" is ;))

[pookiehohn]

A japanese assasin of sorts.

[mytubeacmr]

lol well tought out answer

[onormichi]

speaking of japenese you should check out "onore michi" the theme song from gokusen

[beethomozart]

each of the 6 variations is done with a self tempo,rythm,character and tonality and each one reminds of one of other finest composers such as Brahms in the 5th,Schubert in the 6th,mendelssohn towards the end,with the magnificent glenn gould this video is really a treasure,long live ludwig van

[silentplummet]

Grow up.

[TheLostTruckDriver]

He looks like the love child of Henry Winkler and Jerry Lewis but his performances are grand.

[trevjr]

Glenn plays this great, with much feeling and humor. Listen to the variation about 6 mins in, so beautiful. Followed by a humorous variation that he captures the spirit perfectly. Not dry at all!

[somedudeplayingpiano]

a dove black jew from china ? never heard that before

[aaron32993]

and the best comment of the year goes to Terraflux16! CONGRATS! u get a COOKIE

[kajohada]

ya,and his mother was indian squaw and his father an islam fundamentalist[brother of osama bin ladin]------------->hahahahaha­ha!

[abandeli]

No, no, he was from outer space, from a planet where the people are deaf but play music very well...

[88delights]

Sorry to burst your prejudicial bubble but Glenn Gould was not Jewish.

[laddyy]

you are totally right!

I never knew he was a fellow scot.

I learned something new every day....and the lesson learned is that there is no proof that jews can do more than steel peoples money and produce hollywood movies.

None-the-less, Gould was totally amazing and its a treat to hear him play some ludvig van....

cheers for the vid!

[jack7474]

ah, the dear old CBC.

I'm no expert, but I think he plays a pretty mean Beethoven. The opus 69 cello sonata with Leonard Rose is awesome too. Think they have it on YouTube.

[popobox]

aucun de vous avec tout vos commentaires debiles n arriveraient a faire ne serait ce qu un centieme de ce qu il realise en tant que pianiste.bande de nazes vos noms de "critiques" du dimanche tomberont a jamais dans l oubli 5 min apres votre mort.bye bye les cretins

[yishujia0915]

He is a true artist gifted musician

[principalbass]

I don't think it was solely the fact that he was an amazingly capable pianist, but also that he was willing to do things a little differently. There'll always be people out there willing to play this music the way it's "supposed to be" played, but it takes a real musician to take something and do it their way.

[p0lyph0ny]

Yes, in an interview Gould once said, "If there is any excuse to make a recording, it is to do it differently -- as it has never been done before. If one can't quite do that, abandon the project and move on to something else."

[adams82683]

I've seen that interview and there is a lot of truth to that. He also said something to the likes of "all the basic statements have been made." How true. principalbass is also right on the money - there will always be plenty of performers to play pieces the "right" way, so what's wrong with someone playing a piece their way? The other side of the arguement is of course that it disrespects the composer's work, but I honestly don't feel that that's the case at all.

[joyleemorr]

I agree with you. I don't understand why people talk about the "right" way to play whoever's music, or that it disrespects the composer's work. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, et. al., have been dead a very long time, so how can anyone know today how they would have played their own compositions, or what they would have thought of different interpretations than their own? Seems silly to me to even mention such things.

[adams82683]

Glad you see what I'm getting at. We can somewhat ascertain what these composers played like, but only to a degree. What I think is more important to remember is that we have no idea how they would play their own music if they were alive today and with our instruments, technology, etc. I'm glad we have those who try to give authentic renditions, but my biggest beef with only playing the "right" way is that it siphons off all creativity in performance and turns it into a repetitive, mindless act.

[JA22101]

Like who Posh, You? Give me break. See what you don't understand is that Gould was much more than a pianist. His life was music 24/7. Nothing else no one else.He did'nt just read notes on a page like 99% of classical stiffs. He absorbed them and interpreted them whith freshness and life. Piano was merely an outlet.

[memed1637]

He *is* the best pianist of the 20th century, probably only the composers could judge him.

[posh1961]

nonsense,there are many great pianists,only they never had the chance to record like him

[joyleemorr]

Of course, they had the chance. They just didn't make the same choice as GG did...to leave the concert stage.

[sheilarakham]

Eccezionale.

Come Glenn Gould non c'è nessuno!!!

[kajohada]

on the highest level,original and amazing....what a pleasure listen to this!

[PianoSpace]

schön

[brozors]

Gould's early Beethoven is so underrated. This is a stunning performance. thanks for the clip.

[aldebussy]

Stylish!

[48montblanc07]

Even if here and there I tend to be a bit ironical and sarcastic when I write comments, with a performance on such a level as this it would never enter my mind! Such a degree of absolute technical and musical perfection - there just is no other word for it! - is a standard to take as an example!

[48montblanc07]

Thanks from me too - this is something extraordinary!

[posh1961]

thankyou

[pigolet2178]

thank you!

[trevjr]

Wow that trill, man. Any doubts about Glenn's technique are dispelled by this video. Such perfect weight to chords. This is truly perfection and musicality blended together.I'm a Gould fan and I am just discovering the videos. I'm in heaven truly.

[ragsiruh]

He is an an original and a very interesting interpreter of composers. That interpretive style is probably what people do not understand or like. A lot of people want to hear it just like it was composed and Gould said that if he did not hear something new in a composition, he would not record it. Personally I think the man is quite probably the best i have heard.

[eilmru07]

Wonderful.

[KDFmann]

you're right jamiegirl27.. I discovered this video two weeks ago.. can't stop watching it every day.. help me pls! tnks uploading it

[jamiegirl27]

Great job by Gould ...but

even better by Beethoven!

[cholling]

How the heck would you know that? Either you're a time traveller or very, very old!

[jamiegirl27]

funny!o! i meant great job on the composition by Beethoven. I am more enlightened by the composer, his theory and the composition than the interpreter usually. Although, its the marriage of the two that actually make it work altimately i soppose.

[SergeiPinocchio]

There ARE selfless pianists. I've seen them. I saw Emil Gilels play three times in person, and the ever-poker-faced Horowitz twice. I saw Alfred Brendel in concert: completely self-effacing. Kinda like Bruckner, the meekest of composers, when asked by a surly conductor what a certain note was. Bruckner replied: "Whatever note you'd like it to be, Sir."

[lovesGenet]

Take Hofmann out of that group . He really ain't pure.Rach makes everyone sound like he's playing Rach. ,Solomon Kempff are unparalleled .But read letters &u find composers love personality often with their music . Brendel has asmuch personality as anyone but live these pianista say things theywouldn't in a saved "record"

 JOHNNYAGAIN!!!

[AlsatianCousin]

Interpretation is a requirement for music. In Bach's days there were no musical markers at all. So dig that.

[thethikboy]

Interpretation doesn't mean self-indulgent styling. There were performance conventions, some written some in the tradition.

[23joa23]

That and Bach was very technical. Most of his works were not written with interpretation markings. So having personal intrepretation is kind of important I guess... Add more interest into the piece if done correctly.

[thethikboy]

" if done correctly."

Whatever that means

[p0lyph0ny]

If one can make beautiful music that touches us, does it really matter whether he follows performance conventions?

[sirdelrio80]

When anybody plays, the sound that results is a consecuence of what the player hears. If he has acute ears and fingers, and enjoys the music then a magnificent sound emerges. Gould's Bach not only proved that he could produce a vast range of sonorities and textures, but also that he didn't like other composers' music as well.

[petie32]

Gould is to pianists what Bobby Fisher is to Chess.  Brilliant and ODD.

[salmonroll]

Interesting comment, although while Fischer was ODD and MEAN, Gould was odd and extremely nice and gentle.

[silentplummet]

Yeah, Fischer was a goblin and a troll. He had a queer and hateful fascination about Jewish people. You can't compare someone like that to Gould.

[weikko79]

True, but he was (is) also a genius.

[ghostpianist]

incredible playing and interpretation

[auktober]

Next to Pamela Anderson, he is my favourite Canadian.

[nickthegreat998]

although there are some good ideas here (as always with gould) i think his sound quality is at times unrefined, and even (rarely) ugly. take the C minor variation from this set (dont know the number). he bashes some of those chords into a pulp! ugh...

[cookforsoul]

it seems to me the theme is too slow for adagio

[thethikboy]

What's slower than adagio? Largo maybe? Not much else.

[cookforsoul]

there will be Largo,Lento, Larghetto and Grave maybe?

[thethikboy]

But the exact tempo of these is relative to the music, especially before metronome markings.

[kooodeal]

He enters a Zen state as he plays ,I see this clearly.

[HenkValk79]

Gould.. Is there some video of concert of him?? I know he only played for camera, but he gave some concerts..

He is just the best....

[weikko79]

Yes, though not many. You might try searching YouTube for the few that there are.

[ixcuincle]

Yes. I wish I had Youtube to look at some of Gould's classic performances to go along with the biography I was reading 5 years ago.

[LEYTR]

Amongst many others, I thank YouTube and all its contributors, JuanPedrotti being one, for taking the time to upload these and give those of us the benefit of enjoying such masterpieces played by a master musician. Thank you :o)

[lourak]

Notwithstanding my comment above, the performance is a formidable one, with a wonderful flow and outstanding articulation (but that is par for Gould).

[lourak]

One thing I could never get used to with Gould is his total self indulgence at the piano.

[gspaulsson]

Whatever it takes. It's the sound that counts.

[kenkim5]

name a pianist that isn't self-indulgent. i'd say of all the "ists" pianists are the most self-indulgent. maybe conductors are more.

[lourak]

Kenkim5 - your point is well taken. A few pianists do come to mind who fit the more modest mold, placing the Composer above themselves. Consider: Solomon, Hofmann, Backhaus, Gilels, Richter, Kempff Cziffra, Hamelin, Schiff.....

[thethikboy]

Certainly there is an essential part to played by the performer. That doesn't mean all bets are off and the performer can execute the master's music like it was his own with complete disregard for style period tempo and the composer's expressive markings.

It is not the case with the reputable pianists on the 'list'.

[PrinceGould]

"That doesn't mean all bets are off and the performer can execute the master's music like it was his own with complete disregard for style period tempo and the composer's expressive markings."

Yes I remember when that legislation was passed by parliament.

"It is not the case with the reputable pianists on the 'list'."

If you don't like the show, change the station.

[thethikboy]

"legislation was passed by parliament"

Really strange way to interpret the canons of classical art.

"If you don't like the show, change the station. "

I love Gould why would I change the station?

So you've managed to trivialize artistic standards to legislation and trained sensibilities to marketing.

[weikko79]

Ever heard of irony/sarcasm?

[thethikboy]

The irony and sarcasm was noted and is hardly the point.

[weikko79]

What I mean is that apparently you didn't realise that PrinceGould's remark "Yes I remember when that legislation was passed by parliament" was clearly meant to be ironic. Judging by your comment, you seemed to think that he (?) was seriously speaking about legislation.

[thethikboy]

I understand the sarcasm. To be sarcastic about the canons of taste is childish.

[weikko79]

To not understand sarcasm is childish.

[thethikboy]

Not about the canons of taste.

[thethikboy]

Richter, Brendal are self-indulgent only by semantic stretch.

[yuzu1009]

This is metamorphosis. Glenn Gould becomes the music.

I've come to believe every single one of his perfomance is a showcase of miracles.

[stareway]

Hearing Mr. gould play the Italian concerto made me want to learn to play the piano. At 25! Fourteen years later and still in awe.

[terraflux16]

Glenn Gould.

[mahlonmahlon]

y not stop all this bickering and enjoy such beautiful music?

[RossM3838]

Music grows and lives through the performer. Playing Beethoven with only an 18th century style would make it static. I often have several different recordings of the same piece because different performers take such different takes on the same music and I like them all.

[ThisDream]

Perhaps 60 years is too long for one with such limited capacity for change to remain a musician?

[dimork]

Since I have been a musician for over 60 years, I suppose I know nothing?

[dvaduraka]

possible, being experienced doesnt necessarily mean that you learned out of it and are better or wiser than anybody else.

[dimork]

Poor Beethoven! Such a self-indulgent rendering of the work. The composer and his intentions get pushed aside for Mr Gould and his strange ideas.

[rule914]

Yes, because I'm sure you know just what Beethoven's intentions were! Also, what an uncreative person you must be.

[gspaulsson]

I can't remember which contemporary of Beethoven's said that he never played a piece the same way twice. That would make for at least dozens of "authentic" Beethoven interpretations of anything, and if he had lived to be 237 there would be thousands. Unlax and enjoy the music.

[josephcarrington]

I believe you're thinking of John Cramer. Apparently at one point some of Beethoven's friends actually preferred to hear John Cramer (who was apparently, at one point, the only pianist respected and admired by Beethoven according to Ferdinand Ries) play his works because they never knew what they would get. On the rare occasions when people were lucky enough to get him to play for them he would improvise.

[lapmarty]

what a limited point of view...so for you we should played beethoven as it is written?

bare in mind that even beethoven indulge himself in playing other works as he like...that is sign of genius.

if you wanna hear beethoven as beethoven would played it..then your in trouble..no recording

but close one exist in abondance.

just listen to those.

but stop with stupid comment.

music this made made is great...it can even reach other to like beethoven

[crowe]

playing music "as you like" might be a sign of genius, but it isn't proof of it. why do people refuse to accept critisism of Gould? as with most adventurous artists- his unusual ideas often paid off, but not always.

[thethikboy]

Beethoven wasn't Gould's best suit.

[logosmuziekfever]

You're right. He is known for his interpretation of bach's music.

But it doesn't mean that he is no good for beethoven. This recording of beethoven's variation is good indeed.

[thethikboy]

I didn't say or mean any of that. I don't think he really understood Beethoven. He certainly did not understand Mozart.

[falcolan]

absolutely, From Mozart, he understand NOTHING!! hahahaha, a genius like him, and a great 0 in mozart! hahahah

[kajohada]

...nonetheless he played beethoven very very well,often exaggerated in tempo,he loved and hated him at the same time.you know,glenn gould had this horrible complex that all music which is n o t contrapuntual is bad music.therefore they say that he could only play bach fine,but this is not true,he only was afraid to confess to the hedonistic aspects of music.he refused also the sensual feelings because of his puritanical education,b u t listen to his brahms or wagner:glenn was contradictory:))

[thethikboy]

He actually said on many occasions that Mozart was overrated. His performances of Beethoven are pretty dry overall.

[kajohada]

ya,but mozart,this is another thing yet,was a genious of the first water,glenn wanted but could not reach this status in composiing for example.recently i heard the famous missa in c minor,every bar pure mastership all goes to the heart at once,u only can wonder how is it possible that a human being is able to do that.this fact set him in this paradox obsession that mozart might be overrated.but in german there is a proverb:"es macht dem mond nichts aus,wenn der hund ihn anbellt"->sorry,glenn;))

[logosmuziekfever]

I don't think that his performances of beethoven are dry. I agree if you say that his performances of beethoven is in a strict tempo, but.... dry??? I don't think so.....

Do you see his facial expressions while he play? Do you see his body languange? Such a performance is a performance from a true artist!

Strict in tempo?...... Yes!

But, dry performance??........ABSOLUTEL­Y NO!!!

[einmarmor]

never see Mr. Gould so romantic

[Poojoj]

Love this performance, thanks for posting!