Re: Why 1981 Goldbergs better than 1955?

[Kate Clunies-Ross <goldbergs@TALK21.COM>]

I dont think you can say one is better than th other, either.  Both
wonderful, but so different!  The 1955 version is all  brilliance and fire;
the 1981 version has coherence and depth. Which one I choose to listen to in
any occasion depends on my mood.

The first version I heard was the 1955 one, which quickly became one of my
most loved recordings. The sheer energy, youth and urgent joy of creating
something beautiful was  stunning, and still is.Then I  listened to the 1981
version,  and at first I viewed this with a kind of suspicion. it was so
different, and as  Sara describes, I tended to favour the version first
encountered as being familiar,  an old friend. I knew what to expect and I
knew that I would find  it wonderful.
But then the second version began to weave a kind of spell over me. It is so
thoughtful, so deep; shadowed and  complex,  it is a journey that takes you
through  a lifetime of emotions and returns to its beginning, calmed and
peaceful.
I too could not resist a feeling that  at the time he made this recording,
Gould sensed the _possibility_  of impending death. Mind you, the rational
part of my mind resisted this idea; it is so easy to imagine or invent this
kind of thing, with hindsight , knowing that we lost this marvellous man so
soon afterwards; so it would be interesting to know if anyone, hearing this
recording before Gould died, or before  they learnt of his death,
instinctively felt that he had had such a premonition.
 I have never succeeded in shaking off the idea entirely. However, to me,
although there is an infinite sadness as Bob said, that sadness is mine, not
Gould's. I personally do not feel that he regretted anything, or felt he had
too little time to say all the things he wished to say. I feel rather that
he expresses an acceptance of what  _might _ happen,  and is using this
recording as a final demonstration  of his feelings, his spirit, and his
communication with us.  This is me, he says, this is what my life is about,
and if anything should now happen to me,this is what  I want to say to you,
and how I would like you to remember me.
 For me , one of  the extraordinary qualities of Glenn Gould is that whilst
his music is a treasure he left to the whole world, it also feels like a
personal gift  made to each listener, separately.  We all benefit from his
generosity.

Kate