RE: Wagner?

[Thayer A <A.Thayer@rhbnc.ac.uk>]

> ----------
> From: 	Thayer A
> Sent: 	14 January 1999 20:36
> To: 	'neil@thump.org'
> Subject: 	RE: Wagner?
> 
> Dear Neil,
> 
> Thanks for the reply. I have only just returned from University so sorry
> for    
> not getting back to you sooner. I think perhaps you misunderstand me 
> when I say Gould's peformances could be seen as a misconception. It is 
> certainly not the view I take personally, I simply 
> mean that I can understand how others might look at them in such a way. 
> I was certainly very moved and interested when watching the scene of 32 
> short films, where he listens to Tristan. Although I must admit that I am 
> generally more in favour of the traditional style of Wagner playing I 
> certainly take Gould's interpretations very seriously, and particularly
> like 
> his tempo for the Idyll. 
> On the subject of Liszt (although I generally agree that his music is
> indeed 
> rather poor) do you know the recording of Beethoven's 5th? I recently
> heard 
> Zoltan Zocsis play it and was amazed (not so much by the pure 
> mechanics, but by the quality of sound and degrees of colour he 
> achieves). I find it hard to imagine Gould's recording (especially as he
> sat 
> so incredibly low down at the piano). While I don't doubt his finger
> velocity I 
> have not yet heard him do anything incredible in terms of chord playing.
> If 
> you know the recording I would be interested to know what you think.
> 
> Andrew Thayer.
> 
> ----------
> From: 	neil@thump.org[SMTP:neil@thump.org]
> Reply To: 	neil@thump.org
> Sent: 	18 December 1998 10:43
> To: 	Thayer A
> Subject: 	Re: Wagner?
> 
> On Tue, 15 Dec 1998 19:01:55 -0000, you wrote:
> 
> >One might say that Gould's
> >performances are a misconception of such obviously emotional music (I
> don't
> >agree) but I think that there is great value in viewing the music in such
> a
> >technical manner.   
> 
> This is true. But like mnay of us (me for sure) GG was bowled over by
> hearing
> Tristan for the 1st time and surely that left an indelible impression on
> him.
> The transcriptions seem to me to be a labour of love and a foray into
> uncharted
> waters as far as piano transcriptions go. Considering the hours  of empty,
> virtuosic salon  music from Liszt and his followers (especially them -
> thalberg
> etc.) then I'm very glad to hear a totally fresh approach (and rebuttal of
> the
> salon virtuoso nonsense which "pianophiles" rave about.)
> 
> The Rhine journey is really marvellous and sweeping without sounding to
> Gouldianly (new word ??) academic. With Meistersinger his very persuasive
> arguments for the coutrapuntal complexities shed new light on the work for
> me. 
> 
> Neil
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Neil (at home)    |http://www.thump.org
> 
>