RE: GG: Rosen's Goldbergs

[KImmoor@aol.com]

   Having now listened to the Rosen Goldbergs with additional scrutiny, I do
agree that they are quite a passionate performance and would probably be the
closest thing to GG for those who can't stomach Gould's "gusto."
   To me, the interesting thing about the Rosen GB's is his choice of tempi.
He seems in many ways to combine techniques of both the first and second of
GG's interpretations; in places like the aria, the pacing seems methodical
and deliberate, almost dragging. In other places like Var. 19, his tempo
seems rushed, hurried (embracing the character-type of that variation in
particular as a "whirling dance"). I feel that when listened to as a complete
work, Rosen's slower sections balance well with his faster ones, making his
work a little more predictable in color and style, and probably a little more
acceptable to the non-Gouldy listener. You wouldn't look back on his
performance and think, "Man, was that fast!" or "Lord, that was slow." It's
just an all-around nice interpretation.
   Keith Jarrett's Goldbergs, on the other hand, are a completely different
animal. How do people feel about hearing them on the harpsichord - does it
make a preferred difference? I think that if I ever needed to produce a film
about a spider, I would use Jarrett's GBs as the soundtrack.