Re: GG listeners (yet another)

["Veronica Andrew" <xavierandrew@earthlink.net>]

Dear Fellow GG Listeners,

Well, I was beginning to think I was going to let this thread slip by
without contributing to it.  Thank you, Mr. Kunath, for stretching the
coattails out a little longer so that one more (at least) could grab on...

I think Robert Kunath brings up an interesting point, one that surely
occurred to me the first time I saw Gould.  I am definitely what would
qualify as a non-musician, unless my half-sincere attempt at violin lessons
(in the fourth grade) counts.  My first encounter with Gould was the last
ten minutes of "On the Record", which just happened to be on public
television as I was channel surfing.  I was immediately bowled over, and the
reasons were definitely twofold:  

First, I'd never heard or seen anything like Glenn Gould playing the piano. 
My exposure to other great pianists was definitely limited, but what I did
remember of them was a lot of pounding and laboring, eyes darting all over
the keyboard, tempo interrupted (albeit briefly) by reaching fingers for
keys or gratuitous (in my uneducated opinion) dramatics.  To me, Gould
seemed to have transcended that.  His victory over any awkwardness of the
keyboard or any physical limitation resulted in playing that made me think
of the word 'pristine'--without flaws, without breaks or interruptions, and
without errors (as far as I knew).   I don't think one has to be a musician
to recognize a piece very skillfully played.  Up to then, I'd never heard
anything so skillfully played, and I couldn't wait to hear more.

The other reason I was bowled over was the impression Gould himself made. 
The first thing I noticed was how old he was (actually, how old he wasn't).
He played an instrument more skillfully than anyone I'd ever heard, yet he
looked to be younger than me! (I was 26 then.)  What devotion, and what a
life, I thought, must have been necessary for that kind of accomplishment. 
Of course, all the biographical investigating I did later substantiated my
assumptions...I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about.  I've come to
admire both the musician Gould and the individual Gould, and I guess I've
never doubted that either is a good reason to be a 'patron'.  

To be impressed by music is certainly legitimate, but I think it's also
legitimate to be impressed by a personality.  I think both serve to inspire.

Veronica 
xavierandrew@earthlink.net