Re: BWV912 quirk

[jerry <jerbidoc@zianet.com>]

>I don't have the score at hand (ok, ok, I can't read the score:) so I'm very
>interested whether the abrupt stop around the 0:28 mark in the Gould's
>recording
>of the D major toccata (BWV912) is a young Bach's caprice or a cramp in
>Gould's
>fingers.
>
>Juozas Rimas Jr
>http://mp3.com/JuozasRimas


I downloaded the first 60 secs of it off Napster (because I can't locate
the CD right now, we just bought another house).  Ain't technology
wunderbal!!  Plus, with a MP3 on a computer you have easy and precise
control of the first 25 to 35 seconds, for a question like this..

Yes!  that prominent rest is there in my score, but GG does something
(which seems to work!) to bring that abrupt rest to the listener's
attention.  He turns (trills) the low G# base note (the first note of this
measure),  then he speeds up the last 3 of the 4 following notes into
almost an appoggiatura, but THEN after the rest he plays the following
ascending scale, starting with E below middle C, very slowly and
expressively.    He seems to be saying, "If JSB put a rest there I'm going
to use it to make a Gouldian  point!" or something...

Most players take this whole scale-filled intro presto, but not Glenn!  heh
heh   When I play it I like to imitate Gould.  His way is much more fun,
but it's also an approach which is all too easy to play very, very badly! !
Rarely am I happy with how I attempt to hold it all together, so I wouldn't
dare try to play it this way for anyone who wants to hear this piece.  Heh
!  It invariably comes off sounding 'disjointed'.

A piano player can really appreciate the legendary Gould control of his
fingers, hands and his spontaneous musical 'intentions' with a piece like
this.
GG performs all the Toccatas, especially, with this refreshing sense of
freedom.

Jerry