Search - Glenn Gould, Bach :: Bach: The 6 French Suites, Glenn Gould Anniversary Edition

Thought and Feeling

Marc Ruby? | Warren, MI USA | 04/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"' When that I was but a little tiny boy,' as the song goes, my parents did their best to turn me into a pianist. While the experience taught me much about music, the keyboard turned out not to be my instrument, but the oboe. Regardless, the music of those often-frustrating years remains dear to me, and some of that was Bach's French Suites.



In my day one was taught that playing Bach was all about precision and tempo, two things that I never seemed to excel at. I'm typical of oboe players, lost in the melody, sometimes forgetting that there are other parts to pay attention to. Somehow I think that Glenn Gould and I are brothers under the skin. Although he was a far better musician than I became, and new darn well exactly what was important in a piece.



He sets you up with the Allemande from Suite No. 1 and then hares off for parts unexpected, squeezing each bit for all it is worth and then some. He mutates tempi, invents the ornamentation and proves, once and for all, that musicality frequently has little to do with what is printed on the sheet. In my youth, Gould was the essence of controversial, now I fiont he is like a fine wine, fill of unexpected flavors and unique harmonies.



If melody is God, Glenn Gould is it's prophet. The French Suites aren't meant to be rattled through, but to be mulled over for there finer points. Gould has a vision like few others and this untraditional approach brings you close to the music and its real beauty. He makes you wonder how Bach played this work, in the days before everyone made up the rules.



[Dedicated to Bob Zeidler, whose little finger knew more about music than I could ever hope to]"

Simply splendid

Rob Watkins | Augusta, Georgia United States | 11/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"mr. gould was world renowned for his interpretations of many of bach's works for keyboard. here is a fine example of why--the playing is superb as gould evokes the passion and the energy of bach's french suites. these suites are not as lengthy nor as involved as the english suites, but they afford enough challenges to the pianist to make them mechanistic and devoid of feeling as the artist simply tries to make it through. here, though, there is a joy that comes through. mr. gould makes these completely crafted pieces sound improvisational and almost momentary in their construction. in short, they're fun to listen to. the effortlessness, though, is an illusion. the quality of the playing is entirely indicative of the effort applied. get this cd and enjoy!"

Bach for all time

J. Anderson | Monterey, CA USA | 04/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's interesting and helpfully instructive to read on this page an oboist's take on this Bach and the incomparable rendering offered by Glenn Gould. The idea that perception creates concept is perhaps in no other instance as true as in assessing the idea of Bach's music. Bach's place in the musical world is as strong as it's ever been, and Gould's hand in that formidable reformation is embodied perfectly in this recording. Having survived the scourge of Enlightenment, it's taken long enough to convince musical pedagogy in particular of Bach's melodic instinct and its place in his vast transforming musical schemata. For all his staccati, humming, fingertip technique, invention of ornamentation and tempi, Glenn Gould ALWAYS affords listeners an unshadowed look into the life of melody in music, and is therefore a natural Bach interpreter. Gould never played the piano as percussion instrument, rather always as an instrument for singing (indeed often ceding to his own singing the edifying glory of counterpoint) and THAT, notwithstanding all else, makes his Bach life-giving and bequeaths to us a Bach for all time. Over and over again I'm struck by the golden reach of Gould's intent here, an intimate resilience and candor rivaled perhaps only by his interpretation of the Toccatas. This is not prescription Bach, and for that it eternally beckons and feeds us. Let the faint-hearted become strong! Recommended without reserve."