GG: Hindemith's Das Marienleben

[Mike Flemmer <mikejf@freewwweb.com>]

I just acquired an interesting GG collector's item:

"Hindemith: Das Marienleben"
Roxolana Roslak, soprano
Glenn Gould, piano (and faint background humming)

Columbia Masterworks M2 34597 (2 LP set, 1978)
Producer: Andrew Kazdin
Engineers: Kent Warden, Frank Dean Dennowitz (he he)


This 2 LP album set definitely worth searching for.  This is a
recording I've never seen before.  The CD release is apparently out
of print because it does not show up in CD web stores I searched.
I found this mint condition two record set at a large radio station
record sale this past weekend. (for only $4.00!)  But, what got my
attention immediately is the WONDERFUL cover shot- it's a
beautiful faces only close-up photo of Roxolana and Glenn, shot
in warm, deep tan,  skin tone color.

They both look very healthy (ok, maybe blemishes were air brushed
out). Roxolana is extraordinarily beautiful with long black hair and
Gould is just behind her with his typical serious 'fingers on chin'
pose.
Someone uses GG for wallpaper?  This would be a great choice.
In fact, they make a perfect couple (dare I say?)   He should have
married this lady!  I might even frame this album and hang it on the
wall, I like it that much!

About the music:
It's typical Hindemith-  dissonant, dark and bleak, with only a
few moments of 'brightness'.  Yet, it held my attention thoughout
the song cycle, but it's not something I could listen to often.

Roslak has a beautiful voice and she won a Juno Award for this
recording. Even though the music is 'bleak' (but in a friendly way)
it is a captivating performance.  This type of atonality is easy on
the ears.  It has forward harmonic motion and often 'progresses'
to some nice climaxes.  Sometimes, it's even kind of 'jazzy'. (I've
been listening to jazz lately and these dissonant chords don't bother
me one bit.)

Gould on piano is crystal clean and clear as usual and I use to
wonder if he hums when he accompanies a vocalist and the answer
is- yes he does.  And yet, even here it doesn't bother me at all.  In
fact, although the humming is faint, if you listen for the humming, it
'fits' the music just fine and doesn't interfere with the vocalist at
all,
in fact, GG aficionados would certainly claim it enhances the music.
I wouldn't disagree.  You might even almost call this a soprano/hummer
duet! (fear not, Roxolana's voice is very prominent, the humming very
faint).

Most of the piano score is typical soft, atonal dissonant stuff.  But
there
are few moments of virtuosity and GG 'let's loose' in typical fashion.
There is also a pretty 'jazzy' triplet section that's somewhat
virtuosic.
The ending is a satisfying finale that gets big and loud.  Quite
satisfying
for an atonal finale.

Even if you don't like atonal Hindemith at all, this collector's item is

worth the search just for the cover photo.  I couldn't find the photo
of the LP on the net anywhere.  This photo of the CD release is
NOT the same and far less attractive:
http://www.glenngould.com/gg/52674.html

My local radio station only holds this classical record sale
once a year and they give away mint condition, rare classical
LP's for only $2.00 each!.  1000's of them.  They also had
about 200 CD's and I got lucky with them too!  I found six
GG CD's for only $3.00 each!  It was a good day.

Mike