Re: Why 1981 Goldbergs better than 1955?

[Elmer Elevator <bobmer@javanet.com>]

No, it's not at all a question of which one is better. They're two entirely
different kinds of performances.

In the 1981 Goldbergs, I'm convinced I hear Gould's recognition of illness
and impending death. Where the 1955 had the ebullience and enthusiasm of
youth, that sense of immortality and infinite possibilities, there is a
deep, though not morose, sadness in the 1981, a concern for eternal things,
the sense that there's little time left to express all the things, musical,
emotional, spiritual, that he wanted to say.

I know one Lister claims to hear this heartbreaking quality also, I'm
wondering if anyone else does. Or is it just us missing him that seems to
make it sound that way?

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: samenese <samenese@DU.EDU>
To: F_MINOR@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU <F_MINOR@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Friday, May 04, 2001 7:36 PM
Subject: Re: Why 1981 Goldbergs better than 1955?


I don't think one is better than the other.

I guess you would like more the one you heard first( at least
that is the way it is with me and 2 of my friends). I happen to heard
the 1981 version first, and it would always be the more lovely one.
I have a recording of the 1955 one and it is great too, in many ways
better than the 1981 version, it seems as if the articulation in the
1955 version makes it more clear. But the 1981 is richer in other things, to
me is freer, to Gould all the variations make more sense
arithmetically. But to other people it is different things. I have even
heard
that some people think of the last Goldbergs as decadent
(I don't agree with that). But he chose to play the second version a lot
differently (which of course makes sense, because you wouldn't want to play
the same piece equally when you have the opportunity to record it twice),but
still convincing and beautifully.

Sara.



>===== Original Message From Juozas Rimas <JuozasRimas@TAKAS.LT> =====
>A quote from a recent mesage:
>
>"I  agree totally  with  prof. Poli  of  Milan  who  rates  the  Gould's
>Bagatelles  as  equal  to  the  1981  Goldberg  recording  "
>
>Is it the common opinion that 1981 goldbergs are better than 1955?
>
>Juozas Rimas Jr
>http://mp3.com/JuozasRimas