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Glenn Gould and Ravel
"Gasping Gaspard"...heehee...I love it! Did you think that one up, or is it
a common nickname for the piece among frustrated pianists?
Sorry, I can't take credit for this one. Another nickname is Gasbags.
I must admit I really love the "Ondine" and want to play it as soon as my
technique's up to par...but the other two movements have never appealed to
me in the slightest. I read that the piece was written for the express
purpose of being the most difficult piece ever, and I can believe it.
Yes, I have read this too. Says something about the piece.
"Scarbo" in particular holds no aesthetic appeal for me; it sounds very
challenging, but not beautiful in the slightest and frankly not worth all
the trouble of learning it. I doubt I'll ever play it, even if and when I'm
able to.
Same here.
BTW, just to link this back to Gould, did he ever play this piece, or any
Ravel for that matter? I can't think of a single Ravel recording by him.
Nor
do I think he would have had any interest at all in playing a piece just
because it was known to be difficult. Impressing people with his technique
was really not important to him.
He played his own transcription of Ravel's La Valse on CBC TV in 1975.
I don't think he ever recorded Ravel. Does anyone know his thoughts on this
composer?
James
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