Glenn Gould - Bach French Suite No. 4 in E flat Major, BWV 815

[fluffytom82]

What the hell!? It is called an "ALLEMANDE", Mr Gould. Please try to play it as if it were one.

[Arkafana]

This is too fast. I play it slow and it sounds better.

What a pity. If only this song was composed after the damper pedal was invented. I played it with damper it sounds beautiful.

[xuebiyun]

wondering if there was a wrong sequence in the middle? the 4th piece should be Gavotte and the 5th should be Menuet.

[Volunteer15]

Bach, one of the most overtly Christian musicians? You are kiidding, yeah? Try "one of the most talented. Jeez, it's like appropriating Wagner for the Nazis.

[czhuc0810gmail]

This is just plain awesome.

[JAYASEKERA]

When it comes to Bach, Gould or nothing.

Everyone else screws it up somehow.

If it's not Gould, it's a good kindlin'!

[caddencadden]

Bach wrote music for his enjoyment, not to make money

[firebreathone3]

@caddencadden

Not exactly. His main motivation was to glorify God.

[WAYSMEANS]

@firebreathone3 You're absolutely correct. He was one of the most overtly Christian musicians in the history of the world.

[jorgeoscar1000]

PAPA BACH  !!!!

[Irshkboy]

No one would dance to this anyways. I love how he plays it

[pureaKero]

He attacks every first beat like he is trying to murder it! These are suppose to be dances, NO ONE could dance to these!

[NimbleTurtle13]

@pureaKero Bach used the dances as mere structural forms. I can give several examples of pieces that's very difficult to dance to no matter how you play them (e.g. 6th Cello Suite Allemande).

[KABRIS1]

I wonder if this would be "too staccato" for Bach? I don't think so.

[KABRIS1]

Gould was Bach.

[FliegendeHollaender]

I think he is the only pianist whose Bach interpretations can range from wonderful to unacceptable.

This recording is a proud example of the first.

[KABRIS1]

@FliegendeHollaender Unacceptable for whom?

[FliegendeHollaender]

@KABRIS1

to whoever might seek an authentic approach to the interpretation, as the composer wrote it, and in all probability, meant it.

If you want to listen to a historically informed performance, Gould would not be the pianist for that job.

[KABRIS1]

@FliegendeHollaender I believe that by attaching any type of preconception to how a piece "should be played", is depriving ones self of the real value of the music.

I am not a historian, but a lover of great music.

[FliegendeHollaender]

@FliegendeHollaender

as much as I adhere to that way of thinking, I shall point out that some pieces, due to technical means or even else, were meant to be played in a particular way (e.g. an Allemande was meant to be slow during the baroque period)

I am not to say that this is the only way to interpret the music, but to some (especially musicologists) Gould's means of perception may some times cross the line of acceptable freedom given in a piece. I like him, nonetheless. :)

[KABRIS1]

@FliegendeHollaender Thank you for a well written reply.

"The patience with which this music was written and interpreted by Gould could only have been possible through a profound and heightened spiritual awareness"

This comment by hughanderson (you tube user name) touches on what is most important to me. I believe the spiritual essence of these recordings transcends an adherence to a time period, or a prescribed method of interpreting this music. Gould adds his own spirit to Bach's music.

[FliegendeHollaender]

@KABRIS1

agreed.

[Tyronethe24th]

@FliegendeHollaender Baloney. They're all great.

[0mni42]

Dang! When I play the first movement, I see it as this slow, majestic piece... But it's so lively here! Awesome.

[CVik64]

Gould's interpretations have the purity of the diamond.

I admire Gould but sometimes prefer to listen to some other interpretation "less pure"

p.s: i'm sorry for my english incorrect!!

[ytsename]

Formidable! The tempo and the articulation are just flawless. Perfect!

[KABRIS1]

jewish1972: me aburres. Gould siempre da vida a la musica de Bach.

[jewish1972]

ade+, en piano suena muy aburrido

[iguarni]

Glenn in music's legend!!!!!!

[TheZuggernaut]

amadeus9man-

thanks for uploading the French suites. the format and music are amazing.

[eshewerethin]

wonderful, but a bit staccato for me

[KABRIS1]

@eshewerethin A performance of any piece requires a collaboration between interpreter and composer.

It is self limiting when one imposes any type of subjective expectation on an interpretation. Gould approached Bach music like a jazz improvisor. He often played the same piece using different approaches. Altough Gould altered his musical interpretations, he always had a sound musical justification for doing so. The staccato approach brings out the beauty and independence of Bach's melodic lines.

[eshewerethin]

@KABRIS1 thanks for your reply, I wasn't questioning Gould's interpretation -his playing is wonderful. I was merely expressing a preference-I have a recording by Joanna McGregor which I really enjoy, she lets the top line ring a bit more.

Better still, my daughter is studying music and learnt it last year-although she won't be competing with these two!

[MonkeyRufy]

thank you man : )

[caioscattini]

the difference is the harmony progression, tempo, compass, counterpoint type

the bwv815 is my favourite, mostly the gavotte

[John27346]

You forgot to mention the kitchen sink.

[addy931]

What's the difference between the different dances in this suite?

[eljonq1812]

I can hear Bach's soul through Glenn Gould, how he interpreted Bach's beautiful counterpoint harmonies. He interpreted this beautiful French Suite in the modern piano -still making the baroque harpsichord playing style alive. Very beautiful. :) 5 stars