Re: A question for all you Gouldians

["l.caprotti@libero.it" <l.caprotti@LIBERO.IT>]

Hello Michael,
I would like just to give you a suggestion about your "...he is 
practically a god to me..." and other.
You have to be very very careful.
Glenn Gould was a very great pianist, I think the greatest of the 
history (maybe with V.Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein). But I'm sure not 
the "greatest man...".
I'm a piano master (from Milano Conservatory) and I can tell you that 
Gould was truly a phenomenon of the piano, a very sensitive pianist 
(and man).
But I can tell you more! Have you (or somebody else) a recording of 
something really difficult played by Gould? I mean, the Emperor 
Concerto is difficult enough, Bach is always very difficult for the 
control of multiple voices. But have you played Bach and also the 
Wanderer Fantasy for exemple? Or the Chopin's Studies? I have a friend 
(he's piano master he too, in the Cremona Conservatory) and he tell me 
that Gould had not demonstrated his capacity to play the piano. And 
he's not completely wrong.
However I played his cadenza on 1st Beethoven piano concerto. Very good 
music. And quite complicated. But it shows that Gould was a greatest 
pianist. But very careful: not a god or greatest man!

Ciao
Lorenzo

> Hello All!
> 
> My name is ML, I just joined the F Minor mailing list.  I
> have been a follower of Glenn for about a year, I was first sucked in 
by
> randomly viewing "32 short films" on the sundance channel.  Since then
, I
> have learned of the greatest man to grace the 20th century.  I know I 
may
> sound extreme, but he is practically a god to me.  I'm just 17 years o
ld,
> and in today's society---where else can youth look up to!?
> 
> Well this is all besides the point.  The point is---I'm an amateur
> pianist, Bach fanatic, and a true Gouldian at heart.  I am no
> professional at the piano---I lack much theory training, along with
> technical skill.  But I still pride myself when I learn a piece that
> Gould inspired me to learn.  You'd find it hilarious how much crap i g
et
> fro
 I loathe my
> generation---these kids dont know the first thing about music.  But I
> happily report that I have exposed many of my "buddies" to Bach,
> Beethoven, but most importantly...the man who brought those dead
> composers back to life.
> 
> I know my letter may ring with superfluous dodging...but still...it do
es
> have a point.
> 
> For about six months, I have been puzzled by something.  I wanted to f
ind
> the answer on my own---
research and discovery, the good old method.  But
> I'm afraid I can't find an answer---
and who better to ask than a group of
> people dedicated, like myself, to Glenn Gould!?
> 
> My question pertains to his romantic life.  He rarely spoke of
> love/sex/anything of that sort.  He wrote one letter which they
> illustrated in the movie "32 Short films, etc.".  The letter reads as
> follows, and I strongly believe that this was an original letter---
not a
> composition created for the movie:
> "You know, I am deeply in love with a certain beautiful girl. I asked 
her
> to marry me, but she turned me down, but I still love her more than
> anything in the world. And every minute I can spend with her is pure
> heaven. But I don't want to be a bore, and if I could only get her to
> tell me when I could see her it would help. She has a standing invitat
ion
> to let me take her anywhere she'd like to go, anytime, but it seems to
 me
> she never has time for me. Please, if you see her, ask her to let me k
now
> when I can see her, and when I can."
> I am so interested as to who he is writing about!  Does anyone know???
  I
> think this letter is an arguement against his alleged homosexuality (n
ot
> that there's anything wrong with it!).
> 
> There is also an unnamed woman in the film who is at the end of one of
> the shorts entitled, "questions without answers".  She speaks to Glenn
 in
> the telephone, "Why did you stop calling me?  Why didn't you return my
> calls?"
> 
> Who is she!??  I am absolutely clueless!  Is this fiction!? Or 
e call her back if she really did exist!?
> 
> IS SHE THE GIRL WHO HE PROPOSED TO!???
> 
> Other than this piece of information---
it seems that there was never any
> recorded romantic relationship of his!!!???  Is that humanly possibly!
?
> He was so entirely devoted to his music that maybe he gave 100% of
> himself to the piano, and it left no side seeking physical love???
> 
> As you can see---this question truly piques my utter interest!
> 
> For a while, I felt that I didn't think that I wanted to know the answ
er
> to the question about his letter---better to leave some things
> unanswered.  I'd feel so saddened if I found out that he was simply
> playing a game with himself---entertaining himself writing this
> possibly-imaginary love letter.
> 
> So...please respond at your leisure to a youth who is very curious!  M
y
> email address is ml
> 
> Thank you,
> ML
> 
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