GG:Ligeti, and others

[Mary Jo Watts <mwatts@rci.rutgers.edu>]

Gould on other composers *is* an interesting topic.  Jeremy-- has GG directly
discussed Ligeti's compositions and if so, where?

The latest issue of _GlennGould_ contains GG's analysis of Fartein Valen's
piano sonata... here's a brief quotation:
		
	   'Atonality', of course, is a catch-all, a label which, on the one
	hand, can be pinned on serial works in which all twelve tones of the
	chromatic scale are surrounded simultaneously and on the
	other, can describe the incongruity resulting from simple
	triads eliding in unorthodox or unexpected patterns.  Then
	again, as in Valen's case, it can define the properties of a
	language which, while withholding the confirmation of any one
	tonal centre, hovers indefinately on the brink of resolution (p. 24).

The climax of the piece, GG calls "one of the most exciting-- no that's
the wrong word for a man of Valen's sobriety-- exhalted moments in
music" (p. 24)  High praise indeed-- you can find GG's performance on
Sony's "Glenn Gould Plays Contemporary Music."  

This CD also contains Gould's performance of the Variations pour
piano, Op. 8 of Jacques He'tu (oh that my mail reader could handle the
extended character set!) He'tu writes that upon hearing GG's recording
of the variations, (in which Gould freely rearranged parts, ignored
pedal markings and dynamic indications) he was convinced of a
theory he had long held, that Gould really *was* indeed a composer!
Well, that's one way to explain those infamous Mozart recordings!

Does anybody have an opinion about GG's Op. 1?  

-Mary Jo

P.S. I guess Gould's own material in _GG_ is still considered
"unpublished" therefore any quotations are from manuscripts that are 
copyright the GG estate...