Search - J.S. Bach, Gould :: Bach Recital: Italian Concerto, Partita No. 4, Concerto in F Major, Toccata in E Minor

My favorite Glenn Gould album

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 12/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 40-year-old recording is by far my favorite Glenn Gould CD, largely because it contains the finest rendering of Bach's stupendous Partita No. 4 in existence. In addition, it pairs the mighty Partita with the always popular Italian Concerto and the Tocatta in E minor, which serves as outlet for Gould's musicianship and rigorous virtuosity.



For the main course, the Partita, what I most like about this CD and its performance is the relaxed, almost friendly, style Gould pursues throughout. Right from the Overture's opening in rising eighths to the closing pages of the concluding Gigue, Gould sets forth a sunny, bright, optimistic and friendly perusal of the music. His musicianship in the Allemande is marked by a deliberate procession of Bach's ideas that are tied together by love, sweat and blood, all the elements that make up the best Bach recordings. No better recording exists than this section of the Partita to tell you how the mind of J.S. Bach functioned.



This exibition in loving understanding is in stark contrast to Gould's regualr performance style that is characterized by an intellectual technique driven pursuit spotlighting his famous prestidigitation. He did indeed have some of the most magical hands in history.



In contrast, I found his performance of this Partita was performed with simplicity and utter obeyance of Bach's intent. Gould is one of the most titanic figures in the history of recorded piano music that he often dwarfs the music he performs. He left a relatively small recorded legacy and much of that is dedicated to J.S. Bach. Many Bach lovers and piano afficianados, Americans especially, live and die by his recordings and see him as the authority on all things Bach.



The Rough Guide to Classical Music, a compendium of discussions about music, composers and recordings, recommends the Gould recordings in every section of their recommendations of Johann Sebastian's solo keyboard music -- the Well-Tempered Clavier, Goldberg Variations, English & French Suites, Partitas & Italian Concerto. I've heard all that and, aside from the WTC, I cannot get on board. But many Americans think likewise about the late Canadian and his peculiarly particular style with Bach.



What puts me off most often is his rapid fire vituosity that substitutes for transmission of the music. I have no such reservation with this recording, where Gould seems to be in another world. That world is still inhabited by his endless humming, so don't expect an escape from that.



To hear what Glenn Gould could be in his most intimate, friendly and almost introverted moments, listen to this recording and hear the man as he probably was when alone in his lakeside cottage with nothing but his piano and Bach's score."

No One gets the emotion in Bach's piano works like Gould!

castanuts@aol.com (stuart howard) | new york, new york | 10/31/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i cannot listen to harpsichord for more than a few minutes without getting a headache! Sorry, but it's the truth. Glenn Gould plays the JS Bach pieces for clavier and harpsichord on a modern piano and plays them brilliantly, both technically and emotionally; one forever stops thinking of Bach as a mathematician and knows the emotion behind the notes...that's where Gould leads us."

Glenn Gould is a master Bach interpreter

Catherine S. Vodrey | East Liverpool, Ohio United States | 08/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the very most common--and tired--complaints about Bach is that there's no emotion. It's all mathematically laid out, it's all too precise, there's no warmth of humanity to his music.Glenn Gould masterfully crushes these sorts of ridiculous accusations with his rendering of Bach's partitas. Gould is precise, he takes care, he is correct--but he is also overwhelming human and his neediness and emotionalism take Bach's great works to new heights. The exquisite talent Gould has is a very profound pleasure to listen to--it's almost as though you're listening to him pour champagne over the piano keys, so sparkling and effervescent and crisp is the music itself, and the playing. Bach would be honored to have had his music so beautifully recorded as it is here by the inimitable Glenn Gould."