Today has a number of elements to it. It is Wednesday of course, among other things like Hump Day and Veterans Day. The day began with good News also. Before I left work this morning the boss informed me of a promotion and raise coming my way. My elevation is due to his pending trip to visit his Mother in Bangladesh. I am to assist his wife in the operation of the business while he is away. More money is always nice and it not a salaried position so I will get paid fo rall the time I put in. A definite win for me!
I had a really good Veterans Day moment this morning when I was sitting out on the patio in front of the store. A handsome young man came up who was a regular customer approached the store. The difference this morning was that he was in the uniform of the a Navy ROTC cadet. I had noticed his chevrons were of a Naval variety and had asked him to verify that it was Navy ROTC. I mentioned that I like his branch of ROTC because I was a Navy Veteran. He immediately thanked me for my service and I asked him about his goals and aspirations military wise. He wants to be a pilot and as I served on an Aircraft Carrier in wartime, we had a lot to talk about. It always gives me great pleasure to see a handsome young prospective Naval officer, dedicated to his goals, So many of our young men have no direction, it is nice to see one who knows wherein his path lies and a real pleasant way to begin my Veterans Day. If you are a Veteran, Thank You for Your Service. If you know a Service Member or Veteran, take a moment to say thanks today. It will be so appreciated.
Wednesday is also the usual day for New Adventures in Good Music, and I shall not disappoint there today, either. I ran across a couple of fabulous recordings by Canadian Pianist Glen Gould. I also found a couple of short documentaries that I want to share with you today.
Today's play list explores the life and music of Gould, with two short documentaries and his most famously identified work, the Bach Goldberg Variations. The first short documentary follows Glenn Gould to New York City. There, we see the renowned Canadian concert pianist kidding the cab driver, bantering with sound engineers at Columbia Records, and then, alone with the piano, fastidiously recording Bach's Italian Concerto. In the second short documentary, Gould enjoys a respite at his lakeside cottage. This is an aspect of Gould previously known only to the collie pacing beside him through the woods, the fishermen resting their oars to hear his piano, and fellow musicians like Franz Kraemer, with whom Gould talks of composition.
Glenn Gould's debut album of Bach's Goldberg Variations was recorded in June 1955. The Columbia LP quickly became one of the most revered piano recordings ever made and Gould became the most famous classical artist of the day. His exciting, unorthodox new way of playing Bach left listeners awestruck and critics around the world hailing him as a genius. But until recently this iconic album was limited by the dated recording technology of its time.
On September 25, 2006, history was made again. Zenph Studios recorded its debut re-performance® to standing ovations in the CBC's famed Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. The date would have been Glenn Gould's 74th birthday, and what a gift Zenph created to give his fans.
The Zenph re-performance is a revelation in its clarity, depth, and vibrancy. Gould seems to play at an almost inhuman speed and yet with complete accuracy. The 30 variations dazzle the listener with their inventiveness and variety. As music historian and Gould biographer Kevin Bazzana writes in the CD's liner notes, "Here, albeit with his trademark vocalizing no longer accompanying the performance, Gould's musical personality is unquestionably present..."
Glenn Gould's debut album of Bach's Goldberg Variations was recorded in June 1955. The Columbia LP quickly became one of the most revered piano recordings ever made and Gould became the most famous classical artist of the day. His exciting, unorthodox new way of playing Bach left listeners awestruck and critics around the world hailing him as a genius. But until recently this iconic album was limited by the dated recording technology of its time.
On September 25, 2006, history was made again. Zenph Studios recorded its debut re-performance® to standing ovations in the CBC's famed Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. The date would have been Glenn Gould's 74th birthday, and what a gift Zenph created to give his fans.
The Zenph re-performance is a revelation in its clarity, depth, and vibrancy. Gould seems to play at an almost inhuman speed and yet with complete accuracy. The 30 variations dazzle the listener with their inventiveness and variety. As music historian and Gould biographer Kevin Bazzana writes in the CD's liner notes, "Here, albeit with his trademark vocalizing no longer accompanying the performance, Gould's musical personality is unquestionably present..."
The companion piece I have chosen to share with you on my tumblr is a gem also. Gould's memory capacity was legendary. Both his mental and finger memory made it possible for him to reproduce and play music literature many years after his last practice and performance of the same. A famous illustration of this statement would be an event that occurred in 1970, when the renown Italian pianist, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, was unable to go through with his performance of Beethoven's Concerto No.5, Emperor, in Toronto. Gould was given a telephone call on Thursday evening. The problem was explained, and he was asked to substitute for Michelangeli the next morning, on Friday, when the Toronto Symphony and the conductor, Karel Ancerl, were scheduled to work with Michelangeli. Gould's answer was affirmative and good-spirited. In the space of the next few night hours, Gould rehearsed the Concerto he had not touched in four years. The program was televised and, subsequently, aired on September 12, 1970. To everyone's amazement, Gould played Beethoven's Concerto in front of the camera flawlessly and by heart.
Now it will be hard to top those performances, yet a little icing or 'candy' to add to the mix should tie things up nicely. As it is Hump Day, the splash fest known as Wet Wednesday is filled with skimpily clad lads lounging about the page down below. Over on my tumblr, Your Hottie of hte Day is the flawlessly beautiful Sins-Asian, Andy Honda. Thanks so much for the visit, see you again soon. Until next time as always, Enjoy!
.jpg)
