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The Gould Variations

Exploring the extraordinary life, mind, and artistry of Canada's iconic pianist.

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Life

Early Life and Origins

Born Glenn Herbert Gold on September 25, 1932, in Toronto, Ontario, Gould was the only child of Russell and Florence Gold. His family, of Scottish, English, German, and Norwegian heritage, informally changed their surname to Gould around 1939 to avoid antisemitism. His mother, a musician herself, nurtured his prodigious talent from infancy, teaching him piano and exposing him to music. Gould displayed perfect pitch at age three and learned to read music before words, showing an early aptitude for composition as well.

Musical Awakening

A pivotal moment occurred at age six when Gould heard Josef Hofmann perform live, an experience that profoundly impacted him. He later described feeling like Hofmann himself, enchanted by the orchestral sounds he imagined. This early exposure solidified his dedication to music. At age ten, he enrolled in the Toronto Conservatory of Music, studying piano with Alberto Guerrero, who influenced his unique playing technique.

Formal Training and Early Achievements

Gould's formal training at the Royal Conservatory of Music included studies in music theory and organ. He passed his final piano exams at age 12 with top marks, achieving professional standing. By 13, he made his orchestral debut with the Toronto Symphony. His association with radio and recording began early, with his first CBC recital in 1950. He also co-founded the Festival Trio chamber group and performed at the inaugural Stratford Festival.

Piano Artistry

Unique Technique and Philosophy

Gould's approach to the piano was unconventional. He favored a very low seating position, allowing him to "pull down" on the keys rather than strike from above, a technique learned from his teacher Alberto Guerrero. This, combined with a meticulously adjusted piano action, provided him with exceptional control and immediacy of response, which he felt was crucial for articulating the contrapuntal textures of Bach's music. He famously claimed to rarely practice on the instrument itself, preferring mental study, though evidence suggests he did engage in rigorous practice when necessary.

Repertoire and Interpretation

While renowned for his interpretations of Johann Sebastian Bach, Gould also explored works by Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, and modernist composers like Schoenberg. He largely rejected the Romantic piano literature of composers like Chopin and Liszt, finding it too "hedonistic" and theatrical. His playing was characterized by remarkable technical proficiency, clarity, and intellectual rigor, often leading to interpretations that were both brilliant and controversial.

Mental Practice and Memorization

Gould possessed an extraordinary ability to memorize music, reportedly able to play vast repertoires from memory instantly. He developed techniques for mental practice, allowing him to prepare complex works without extensive physical playing. This mental acuity, coupled with his deep analytical understanding of musical scores, contributed to his distinctive and often highly personalized interpretations.

Concert Performances

International Debut and Tours

Gould made his American debut in 1955, receiving critical acclaim. His international career included a significant tour of the Soviet Union in 1957, making him the first North American to perform there post-WWII. His repertoire often included challenging works, such as Schoenberg's serial music, which had faced suppression in the Soviet Union.

Retirement from the Stage

Despite critical success, Gould grew disillusioned with public performance, viewing the concert hall as an "anachronism" and a "force of evil." He felt it fostered a competitive, non-empathetic environment that limited artistic expression. He famously retired from live concerts at the age of 31, giving his final performance on April 10, 1964, to focus entirely on studio recordings and media work.

The Studio as Sanctuary

Gould embraced the recording studio, calling it a "love affair with the microphone." He valued the control it offered, allowing him to meticulously craft performances through editing and splicing takes. This transformed the recording process into an integral part of his creative output, enabling him to realize his musical vision with a precision unattainable in live settings.

Notable Eccentricities

Vocalizations and Mannerisms

Gould was known for humming or singing along while playing, a habit attributed to his early training. This vocalization, often audible on recordings, was sometimes criticized but remained a characteristic of his playing. His physical mannerisms at the keyboard were also distinctive, often described as theatrical or peculiar.

Environmental Control

He maintained strict control over his environment, particularly regarding temperature, preferring warmth. His insistence on using a specific, low-slung chair, custom-made by his father, became legendary. This chair, adjusted to his precise height, was taken everywhere and is now preserved as a significant artifact.

Alter Egos and Communication

Gould employed numerous alter egos in his writings and broadcasts, using them for satirical and critical commentary on music and his own work. He also cultivated a private lifestyle, disliking physical contact and social functions, preferring communication through letters and telephone calls.

Health and Demise

Hypochondria and Medication

An admitted hypochondriac, Gould experienced numerous perceived ailments. While his autopsy revealed few physical causes for his complaints, his reliance on various prescription medications, potentially including antipsychotics and antidepressants, has been speculated by biographers to have negatively impacted his health and mental state.

Mental Health Speculation

Speculation has arisen regarding Gould's mental health, with diagnoses such as dystonia, bipolar disorder, or autism spectrum traits being suggested by biographers and medical professionals. His periods of intense energy, insomnia, reckless behavior, and severe depressive episodes have fueled these discussions.

Final Days and Legacy

Gould suffered a stroke on September 27, 1982, two days after his 50th birthday. His condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to his death on October 4, 1982. He passed away in Toronto, leaving half his estate to the Toronto Humane Society and the other half to the Salvation Army. His grave marker features the opening bars of Bach's Goldberg Variations.

Perspectives on Art

Writings and Critical Thought

Gould was also a prolific writer, critic, and broadcaster, articulating his views on music, art, and technology. His essays often featured sophisticated arguments, rhetorical flair, and a distinctive ironic humor. While praised for brilliant insights, his writing style was sometimes criticized for being uneven or overly formal.

Technology and Authenticity

He viewed technology, particularly recording and editing, as an integral part of the creative process, akin to a film director's work. Gould challenged traditional notions of authenticity in music, arguing that the studio allowed for a more refined realization of a musical score. He believed art's value lay in its internal impact, not its public manifestation.

The Purpose of Art

Gould famously stated, "The justification of art is the internal combustion it ignites in the hearts of men and not its shallow, externalized, public manifestations." He saw art's purpose as the lifelong construction of wonder and serenity, rather than a mere release of adrenaline. He often positioned himself as a "puritan" in his artistic outlook.

Recordings and Media

The Goldberg Variations

Gould's 1955 recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations was his breakthrough work, achieving significant commercial success and critical acclaim. He re-recorded the piece in 1981, offering a slower, more deliberate interpretation that treated the aria and variations as a cohesive whole. This later recording was among CBS Masterworks' first digital releases.

Radio Documentaries

Gould produced innovative radio documentaries for the CBC, notably his "Solitude Trilogy" (The Idea of North, The Latecomers, The Quiet in the Land), which explored remote Canadian regions using a "contrapuntal radio" technique. His fascination with popular culture also led to works like "The Search for Petula Clark."

Television and Collaborations

He appeared in and produced television programs, collaborating with musicians like Leonard Bernstein and Yehudi Menuhin. These collaborations often showcased his unique interpretive ideas, sometimes leading to friction with artists who favored more traditional approaches, as seen in his work with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.

Official Website

Visit the official website for more information about Glenn Gould's life and work.

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Legacy and Honours

Enduring Influence

Glenn Gould's influence on classical music and performance is profound and inescapable. Pianists and critics alike acknowledge his impact, whether emulating or rejecting his approach. His unique perspective on Bach, his embrace of technology, and his intellectual rigor continue to inspire and provoke discussion.

Interstellar Recognition

Remarkably, Gould's performance of Bach's Prelude and Fugue in C major from The Well-Tempered Clavier was selected for the NASA Voyager Golden Record, launched into interstellar space. This inclusion highlights the universal and timeless quality of his artistry.

Cultural Recognition

Gould has been honored with numerous awards, including Juno and Grammy Awards, induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. His childhood home and apartment bear heritage plaques, and the Glenn Gould Studio at the CBC Centre is named in his honor.

Awards and Accolades

Juno Awards

Gould received multiple Juno Awards throughout his career, recognizing his significant contributions to classical music in Canada. He won awards for Best Classical Album of the Year multiple times, including for his recordings of Hindemith, Bach's Goldberg Variations, Haydn's Sonatas, and Brahms' Ballades.

Year Award Nominated Work Result
1979 Best Classical Album of the Year Hindemith: Das Marienleben (with Roxolana Roslak) Won
1981 Best Classical Album of the Year Bach Toccatas, Vol. 2 Nominated
1982 Best Classical Album of the Year Bach: Preludes. Fughettas & Fugues Nominated
1983 Best Classical Album of the Year Haydn: The Six Last Sonatas Nominated
1983 Best Classical Album of the Year Bach: The Goldberg Variations Won
1984 Best Classical Album of the Year Brahms: Ballades Op. 10, Rhapsodies Op. 79 Won

Grammy Awards

Gould's recordings also garnered significant international recognition through the Grammy Awards. He won multiple Grammys for Best Album Notes, Best Classical Album, and Best Instrumental Soloist Performance. His 1955 Goldberg Variations recording was posthumously inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Year Award Nominated Work Result
1973 Best Album Notes โ€“ Classical Hindemith: Sonatas for Piano (Complete) Won
1982 Best Classical Album Bach: The Goldberg Variations (with producer Samuel H. Carter) Won
1982 Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra) Bach: The Goldberg Variations Won
1983 Best Classical Performance โ€“ Instrumental Soloist or Soloists (without orchestra) Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 12 & 13 Won
2013 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Won

Other Honours

Beyond major awards, Gould was recognized with the Molson Prize and was offered the Companion of the Order of Canada, which he declined. His legacy is further cemented by his induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and Canada's Walk of Fame, and his designation as a National Historic Person.

Further Exploration

Legal Case

Explore the legal precedent set by Gould Estate v Stoddart Publishing Co Ltd, a case concerning copyright and posthumous publication rights related to Gould's work.

Composers and Artists

Discover other notable Canadian composers and artists who have shaped the nation's cultural landscape.

Gould's Compositions

Delve into the list of compositions by Glenn Gould, including his string quartet, cadenzas, and vocal works.

References

Source Citations

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References

References

  1.  Full circumstances of the name-change can be found in Bazzana (2003, pp.ย 24รขย€ย“26).
  2.  According to Bazzana (2003, p.ย 27), "At least as far back as the mid-eighteenth century, there were no Jews in this particular Gold lineage."
  3.  Friedrich (1990, p.ย 27) dates this incident on the basis of a discussion with Gould's father, who is cited by Friedrich as stating that it occurred "when the boy was about ten".
  4.  During Gould's 1957 concert performances in Moscow, Vladimir Ashkenazy labelled him a phenomenon (Till & Tovell 1985).
  5.  Gould: "The piano was a means to an end for him, and the end was to approach Beethoven." See Tovell (1959) 07:40 minutes in.
  6.  Bazzana (2003, pp.ย 352รขย€ย“368) In a section, quotes Gould: "They say I'm a hypochondriac, and, of course, I am."
  7.  Ostwald (1997, p.ย 329) specifies "No physical abnormalities were found in the kidneys, prostate, bones, joints, muscles, or other parts of the body that Glenn so often had complained about."
  8.  Hafner 2009, p.ย 19.
  9.  Glen Gould. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Section on "Emerging career". [2]
  10.  Elliott, R. "Constructions of Identity in the Life Stories of Emma Albani and Glenn Gould." Journal of Canadian Studies/Revue d'รƒยฉtudes canadiennes vol. 39 no. 2, 2005, pp. 105รขย€ย“126. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/jcs.2006.0017
  11.  Glenn Gould and Leopold Stokowski on Archive.org
  12.  Liam Lacey, "Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould". The Globe and Mail, December 3, 2009.
  13.  Kingwell 2009, p. xi, "Introduction" by John Ralston Saul.
  14.  "Glenn Gould draws a $15,000 Molson Prize". The Globe and Mail, September 10, 1968. ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
A full list of references for this article are available at the Glenn Gould Wikipedia page

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