[F_minor] Happy Birthday, Mr. G

[Matthew Harding <matthew.harding@ktlgroup.ca>]

You're 74 years young today, and you still look like a 50-year old,  
for crying out loud! Happy Birthday.

So I wanted to talk to you about this recording they're doing at your  
studio today, you know, the one with Zenph Studios (http:// 
www.zenph.com/sept25.html).

I know, I know - you're a huge fan of pioneering new technology in  
recording, yet at the same time you feel sort of... what's the word -  
used? I mean, you recorded this piece over 50 years ago, and mono was  
king. Then you re-recorded it 27 years later, and you were one of the  
first to use Sony's new digital mastering system, releasing it on  
digital CD. And now this company has the nerve to want to re-record  
your original mono recording, but using modern technology in stereo  
(in fact, Super Audio CD and binaural formats as well!).

So how do you feel about it really? Are you happy that your  
pioneering recording is going to be continually re-released, over and  
over again, until the sun becomes a white dwarf and life ceases to  
exist? Or would you have liked to have some sort of control over the  
process? I see, you're saying you'd rather the technology was put to  
better use than to re-hash one of your old chestnuts, if I could  
paraphrase you? I can understand that. After all, you've already said  
all you want to say on the subject, so why keep repeating yourself?

But still, there is the curiousity factor, the car-accident like  
fascination with the recording that propelled you to super-stardom  
(even though you didn't want it), that pretty much guaranteed you a  
pension for life (and beyond, I hear you say!) from a recording that  
has never been out of print since it was released, and as much as we  
hate to admit it Glenn - we're crazy about you. Heck, we even gather  
around the digital fireside to re-hash old stories about you, to see  
if we can really find out what made you tick.

OK sure, if you really need to listen to it, it's going to be  
streaming live from your Studio today at noon Eastern Standard Time  
(http://www.cbc.ca/listen/index.html). To tell you the truth, it  
might be fun... but don't expect me to applaud, even after all this  
time.

Anyway, enough about that. Glenn, just wanted to drop you a quick  
note of thanks for continuing to surprise me with your music, 24  
years after you decided to go into early retirement. We all still  
love you (even that Mozart-loving Theremin guy who keeps posting on  
your list), and you've never let me down yet.

Talk to you next year,
Matthew

P.S. Still waiting for Vol. 2 of the Art of Fugue... please send me  
an email off-list if you can give me an update on its release.
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