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Re: Alchemist DVD

Hello to Eric, Marco, and anyone else interested in this DVD.

Allow me to say right away that if you have not seen this collection, you MUST see it. It is probably the most important contribution to the GG video collection that I have seen.

This DVD is a collection of 4 films entitled "Chemins de la musique" (roughly translated as Musical Pathways, or Musical Roads) made by Glenn's friend and collaborator, Bruno Monsaingeon, in 1974. Since it was made by Bruno for "Clasart", and played in France, I do not believe Sony has the rights to it. (Sony negotiated with a lot of people to buy the non-CBS/Columbia material they didn't already have rights to, but that doesn't automatically mean they have the rights to all material made after 1955). Anyway, I believe we have Bruno himself to thank as he has been negotiating for some time to get this material released, finally EMI appears to have picked it up (yay!!).

There are details on the individual programs on the GG NLC web site (http://www.gould.nlc-bnc.ca/phase3/efilm.htm). But they do not do justice to the amazing job Bruno did with Mr. Gould.

First of all, as opposed to the little fragments and snippets that comprise the Sony GG Video collection, these are entire programs filmed by Bruno of Glenn rehearsing, recording, editing, and thinking about music. But you can sense in these videos a real cameraderie between GG and Bruno, a real comfortableness and spontaneity (if I dare use that word) that shows in their conversations (as opposed to the heavily scripted 1981 filming of the Goldbergs, also done by Bruno).

Second, there is an AMAZING variety of material on these programs. From a complete reading of the Berg Sonata, to recording and editing of the English Suite #1, to some rehearsing of Glenn's Wagner transcription of the Meistersinger prelude (Glenn pounding away on the keyboard, simultaneously singing and talking to Bruno at the same time), to Webern, Schoenberg, and finally a complete rendition of Bach's Partita No. 6, this DVD has it all. In fact, when you watch Glenn play the Bouree of the English Suite #1, you see him play several different versions back to back so fast that you would swear they were from different pianists, they are so unlike in tempi, phrasing, etc. Truly a remarkable collection.

The only drawback is that the transfer from original tapes is not perfect, there are some colour problems and sound inconsistencies that are normal for the 1970s, but this in no way detracts from this amazing DVD.

Now, for some reason I could not find this DVD either, the only way I could get my copy is to bid on one on eBay. For some reason all the copies seem to be emanating from sellers in Singapore. Let me recommend, however, an ebay seller called "busyhubby" who promptly took my order and shipped me a copy from Singapore. They're about $26-$28 US plus shipping, but I promise you that you will not be disappointed. So everybody, fire up your web browsers and surf over to eBay!!

Best regards,
Matthew

-----Original Message-----
From: Cline, Eric [mailto:Eric.Cline@REICHHOLD.COM] 
Sent: January 14, 2003 5:10 PM
To: F_MINOR@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU
Subject: Re: Alchemist DVD


Where did you get this DVD? I can't find it in my usual internet searches in Europe or Japan.

Eric Cline
Sr. R & D Chemist
Graphic Arts?Synthesis Group
REICHHOLD, Inc.
Global Coating and Performance Resins
Phone Toll Free: 1-800-448-3482 ext.8116
e-mail: eric.cline@reichhold.com
http://www.reichhold.com
(Click here to go to the Reichhold home page)
?


-----Original Message-----
From: poli@MAILSERVER.UNIMI.IT [mailto:poli@MAILSERVER.UNIMI.IT] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 4:42 PM
To: F_MINOR@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU
Subject: Alchemist DVD

Hello!

I have recently bought a DVD by Bruno Monsaingeon "Glenn Gould. The Alchemist" (EMI classics DVD DVB 4901279).  Has anybody already got it? The musical program is very exciting (Schönberg, Gibbons, Byrd, Webern, Berg, and Bach), but also interesting are the interviews by
Monsaingeon ... and the booklet of notes.   And then ... an eerye
bonus: a _silent_ black and white movie of Glenn playing.   It is
paradoxically extremely musical to look at his hands dancing silently on the keyboard, in places in slow motion; you can hear the notes in your head, as if coming from very far.  A magical experience, in fact. These films started the interest for Gould in France, and, although some fragments have been seen elsewhere, I never saw them before in
full.    Many thanks to EMI (but wasn't Sony the owner of the rights
on everything he ever recorded after the Fifties?).

I wish you all some good listening and even better watching!

Marco