Re: Glenn Gould in Space

[Bradley P Lehman <bpl@umich.edu>]

On Sat, 28 Feb 1998, jerry and judy wrote:

>(...) 
> His Mozart and Brahms are wacky.
> His Beethoven is uneven.  He gives the best performance I've heard of the
> Op106 fugue.
> His Schoenberg is right on!  Better than the more romanticized versions,
> but not without "heart".
> Some of his Bach is scandalous, but not boring!
> 
> His Bryd and Gibbons are a revelation!!  Just set this one on to repeat
> and leave it on all day!  You'll start hallucinating!  Where does this
> *music* come from?
> (...)

I'm pretty much with you here, J&J, but would add: GG's early Brahms
(intermezzi) isn't so much wacky as gorgeous.  Then later in his career
his way with the first concerto and the ballades and rhapsodies approaches
wacky.  His way with the Brahmsian pieces otherwise known as Schoenberg's
Op. 11, too...those could be a few more Brahms intermezzi, the way he
plays them so beautifully. 

As for Byrd and Gibbons, I think GG's approach to those pieces is
musically terrific in spirit and musically convincing, mostly "right on"
(except the galliards could be more physical)...but his way with some of
the ornaments is definitely wacky, even though (for me) this doesn't get
in the way of the strong musical impression.  It's wonderful music.  Don't
miss the opportunity to hear or play it on a harpsichord, too, the way it
was intended (i.e. not on the piano and not in equal temperament).  I'd be
the first to run three miles to the store if there were a GG "My Ladye
Nevells Booke" for sale. 

Bradley Lehman ~ Harrisonburg VA, USA ~ 38.44N+78.87W
bpl@umich.edu ~ http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bpl/