Search - Glenn Gould, Bach :: Glen Gould, Bach Toccatas vo. 1 - 70th Anniversary Edition

Your mileage may vary

Archimedes | Pennsylvania | 02/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Glenn Gould most often recorded on his own personal piano, which was the type commonly known as an "upright". Another reviewer gave the opinion that this recording seemed to not be played on a grand piano, and I think he is correct. Certainly the odds are in favor of performance on an upright.



I do feel that this repertoire, if performed on a piano, would sound better on an upright; that's my personal opinion. Gould's sound is crisp and clear, with minimal or no sustain pedal.



The particular work I bought this recording for is the Toccata in c minor. Though I did enjoy this recording, I would have preferred a more deliberate pace, if not a more meditative approach. The work might encourage too much self-indulgence in the meditativeness department, and in my humble opinion, that would detract from a performance. Gould, though, goes too far in the opposite direction.



Despite my criticisms, I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm unlikely to find a better recording of the C minor Toccata than the one on the present disc!



Arch"