Re: [F_MINOR] Drugging in the classical music world

[barbara stagno <bstagno@OPTONLINE.NET>]

In the days when he gave concerts, did he ever swallow pills just before
going on
> stage? Somehow, I can't imagine him gobbling a  banana!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kate Clunies-Ross" <goldbergs@BTINTERNET.COM>
To: <F_MINOR@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 6:01 PM
Subject: Re: [F_MINOR] Drugging in the classical music world

I think it's pretty clear that Glenn was taking various tranquilizers from
an early stage in his career and continued taking them from there on out.

This quote comes from a radio interview he did with Vincent Tovell in 1959:
[GG begins by talking about how unselfconscious he felt while performing as
a teen] "It was all part of a game, really.... In those days, one was
blissfully unaware of the responsibility. I just wish I could feel that way
again. Now, you accomplish the same thing by sedatives."
(Tovell, "At Home With Glenn Gould") (I got it from Payzant)

I, and probably others, have wondered how he managed to maintain that
amazing technique -- with incredible clarity and lightning speed -- while
taking sedatives. It would seem logical that his body acclimated to the
drugs over time. Eventually 10 mg of Valium becomes nothing to someone who
has taken it all the time, whereas it would knock most of us out, or at
least render us incapable of decent piano playing.

Also, if a person has a sufficient amount of anxiety, it counteracts the
effects of the drug, and this may have been the case as well.

In any case, I agree he wasn't up to munching a banana before a concert. I
doubt I would be either. If you're really nervous, you feel like throwing
up!

Barbara


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kate Clunies-Ross" <goldbergs@BTINTERNET.COM>
To: <F_MINOR@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 6:01 PM
Subject: Re: [F_MINOR] Drugging in the classical music world


> Aren't bananas supposed to increase the production of serotonin in the
> brain, so you feel good - whether or not you are calmed?
>
> The trouble with beta-blockers is that (a) the calming effect is not so
> noticeable if you take them regularly  -  once you are used to them  you
> don't notice any effect until you either miss a dose or stop taking them,
> when you start to feel rather nervy and jumpy; and (b) if you take them
only
> occasionally. for the calming effect, they can also do stuff like slowing
> your reaction times. I seem to remember that some years ago they gave them
> to racing divers as a trial, to see if they would banish pre-race tension;
> they did, but the drivers felt their reactions were so slowed that  it
could
> in fact be dangerous, and they refused to take the pills  any longer.
>
>  I know GG took atenolol (a beta-blocker) for raised blood-pressure; did
he
> ever comment on whether this drug had any effect on him emotionally? He
did
> once comment that he avoided anything that would  interfere with his
ability
> to think clearly, but that remark was made in reference to alcohol. In the
> days when he gave concerts, did he ever swallow pills just before going on
> stage? Somehow, I can't imagine him gobbling a  banana!
>
> Kate  (who has had to take atenolol on prescription for years)
>
> ----------
> >From: Brad Lehman <bpl@UMICH.EDU>
> >To: F_MINOR@EMAIL.RUTGERS.EDU
> >Subject: Re: [F_MINOR] Drugging in the classical music world
> >Date: Oct, 19, 2004, 5:06 pm
> >
>
> > I believe that the natural method is sufficient for me, and that is to
eat
> > a banana before going onstage.  There are allegations that bananas have
> > some natural beta-blockers; and whether it's true or not (I personally
> > don't know, one way or the other), whether it's placebo or not, it works
> > for me and has done for years.  Plus, it's tasty and nutritious,
"nature's
> > perfect food", and it's relaxing to sit down for a few moments to eat
> > it.  A good crisp banana on its prime day of ripeness.
> >
> > Brad Lehman
> >
> >
> > At 11:49 AM 10/19/2004 -0400, Mary Jo Watts wrote:
> >>Did I just hear GG from the grave urging "Dispense betablockers
> >>forthwith!" -MJ
> (snip)
>
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