GG's philosophy

[elisha-jt@juno.com (Elisha J Tseng)]

>There is no Gould legacy -- the performer who follows Gould's path will
sound nothing >like Gould, because the essence of Gould is an
interpretation that may suit none but >the performer.

Hi F minors,
I remember something my piano teacher told me.  We were having discussion
about the difficult life as a musician, and we got into a conversation
regarding competitions.  He said in his broken English that competitions
were made so the laymen can tell which musicians are the better artists
from the awards they receive because laymen cannot judge for themselves. 
Then I remembered that during my period of studying past musicians and
composers, there really were no such thing as music competition back
around the time of Bach up to maybe the late Romantic era.  There were
honors and acclaimed performances, but no competitions (correct me if I'm
wrong).

He said that the reason why competitions emerged because common people
are being more exposed to music than they were a long while ago.  Back
then music was a luxurious thing in which only the wealthy can afford,
but this idea of 'high art' was greatly respected, but severely limited
to a few prodigies.  Now laymen are tape recorders themselves--they
mimick instead of create.  In a way it is sad because one of the main
purpose that GG resorted to recording was because he wanted the people to
learn what 'high art' is and he wanted the listeners to critically
analyze his playing, not imitate.  This is apparent in some of the
pianists I heard at the 10th Van Cliburn Competition.  Some pianists
requested lower stool, many made exaggerated facial gestures and strange
positioning while playing.  We know of GG's unique non-legato flow of
playing, but some of the pianists took it as staccatos and played it like
skimming the water surface while pretending that they were in full
immersion.  I often regarded these as post-Gould syndrome, in which
everyone wants to be like him. But who wouldn't?

Because of this today it is harder for a musician to make his/er career. 
The competitions sometimes discouraged me because I do not believe that
musicians should resort to circus and fanfare performance just to get
some attention.  Artur Rubinstein is one of my favorite idols, and he
played sitting upright and, showing very little facial expression,
expressed his deepest emotions in his playing.  I like that air of
respect, and it was traditional to sit upright.  On recitals I played in
that position and after performance I have people telling me that I have
to be more expressive in the face and sweeping hand gestures.  Augh, I
didn't need that.

GG didn't like competitions--after Kiwanis he never resorted to attention
getting, he didn't need it.  He knew what high art is and he stuck to it.
 But as my teacher said, when one alone genius opens the door, the
opening will be shambles when the public goes through it. 

>"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music 
>and cats." - Albert Schweitzer  

Well, in Gould's case, music and dogs.(;-)  Cheers!
Elisha

Strong conviction is capable of destroying any prejudice.  The proof:
Glenn Gould.
--Nathan Perelman

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