The Grand Pianists III

Happy Hump Day everyone and welcome to day 3 of The Grand Pianists.  To most Americans, all things Canadian are mysterious and eccentric.  That could certainly be said about our featured Grand Pianist for today, Canada's own Glenn Gould.  There was always an air of mystery about the man who he was known for his idiosyncrasies and eccentricities.  Gould "became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century.  He was particularly renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach. His playing was distinguished by remarkable technical proficiency and capacity to articulate the polyphonic texture of Bach's music."  His Beethoven interpretations were also remarkable and intricate.  

Gould left an active concert career at the age of 31 to concentrate on recording and broadcasting.  His Goldberg Variations are among many collectors prize possessions, both the original and the very different 1982 recording made shortly before his death.  He was also the first Pianist to record Liszt's transcriptions for Piano of Beethoven's Symphonies.  His concentration on recording and broadcasting coincided with the rise of rapid technological breakthroughs in recording and took as much advantage of them as he could.  in the 1960's he foresaw the future of music and recording in general much as we have it today.  He thought we would get 'kits' and make our own music.  When you get on your computer or other technology, you can remix anything that is recorded to create something new.  This is essentially a Gouldian kit and you make your own music.  We are fortunate because of his intense interest in recording, much of his public and private life is recorded on video. 

The documentary posted below, 2009 Bravo film Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould, is a two hour intimate look at the life and times of Glenn Gould that is absolutely absorbing and tells his story so much better than I.  The companion piece I have chosen for my tumblr is the Symphony Number 5, my favorite by Beethoven, transcribed for Piano by Franz Liszt with a dynamic and nuanced performance by the extraordinary Mr Gould.  

Eye candy and splashing good times can  be found in the Wet Wednesday post down below and in the Rain Forest Renoir Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr.  Thanks for the visit, tomorrow we have another Grand Pianist who seems to be everywhere in Classical Music today.  Tune in to see who it is.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!