A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981)

A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981) | Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould, ... | novel·la i Variacions Golberg

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	A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981) Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould, ... Sony, 2002 average customer review:based on 61 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Glenn Gould's recording debut in 1955 of Bach's Goldberg Variations took the world by storm. His decidedly un-Romantic view, absolute technical skill, startling lucidity, and right-on rhythmic changes, combined with his eccentricities--audible humming, sometimes outrageously fast tempi--made him an instantly legendary pianist and elucidated Bach's music in a whole new way. Gould's final recording, 26 years later, was also of the Goldbergs. It's a more relaxed, sometimes much slower, more inward reading (although still very much his own, complete with oddly ferocious attacks and accents), in which he offers repeats of the first half of 15 of the Variations. Both performances are glorious, each in its own way, and this luxurious new set of three CDs is entertaining, a joy to hear, and revelatory; it belongs in any music lover's collection. The third CD is devoted to outtakes and chatter from recording sessions. At one point, Gould improvises "God Save the King" and exhibits how it turns into "The Star-Spangled Banner." And a long interview with critic Tim Page offers great insight into Gould's weird humor and unique outlook. A must-have collection. --Robert Levine

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Great performances! Great packaging!

This was such a good idea: Take Gould's 1955 & 1981 versions of the Goldberg Variation and include them in a single set along with a nice bonus CD which contains an lengthy interview with Gould. The packaging here is first rate as is the remastered sound. These recordings should be in the library of any music enthusiast!

novel·la i Variacions Golberg

En Català:vaig arribar a aquest disc per la recomanació que en feia el protagonista d'una novel·la, i m'ha enlluernat. Interessant la possibilitat de comparar l'evolució musical de Gould entre la gravació de l'any 55 i la del 81. Bona re-masterització. Molt recomanable.
(Si algú troba les Variacions Golberg referenciat en alguna novel·la, m'ho podria dir si-us-plau?) Gràcies

En Castellano: llegué a este disco por la recomendación que hacia el protagonista de una novela, y me ha iluminat. Interesante la posibilidad de comparar la evolución musical de Gould entre la grabación del año 55 y la del 81. Buena re-masterización. Muy recomendable.
(Si alguien encuentra las Variaciones Golberg referenciadas en alguna novela, ¿me lo podría decir por favor?)Gracias

In English: I arrived at this disc by the recommendation that towards the protagonist of a novel, and she has illuminated to me. Interesting the possibility of comparing the musical evolution of Gould between the recording of the year 55 and the one of the 81. Good re-masterización. Very recommendable
(If somebody finds the listed Golberg Variations in some novel, it could say to me please?)Thank You

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Must-Have Edition of Bach's Goldberg Variations

I finally broke down and bought the double CD after having heard these renditions most of my life. Glenn Gould, virtuoso pianist, made two major recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations. The first was as a technically precise and blisteringly fast youngster. The second, over a quarter of a century later, as a mature and reclusive, famous artist who performs in a slower, more expressive (and not particularly baroque) way. The tapes from the second session were remastered (the original '81 recordings were digitally recorded at an unsatisfactory bitrate), and the result is this CD collection which includes a third CD with a Gould interview and some extra material.

Some people are a little put off by the fact that in the later recording Gould lets himself hum along with the music he knows so well. I found it no more disturbing than the creak of a chair or the sound of fretwork or the drawing of a bow in a fine studio recording. In any event, I bounce between both performances now and look forward to enjoying them the rest of my years.

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Once in a great while someone does something right...

Kudos to Sony Legacy for putting this wonderful package together. The original 1955 recording of the Goldberg Variations is presented in it's vastly superior and long-neglected analog version (rather than early tech digital side-by-side master, which was, for whatever reason, the way it was released previously). The sound is fine. One can get an understanding right away why Bach is referred to as 'Father Bach' by some. The 1981 recording, recorded shortly before Glenn Gould's untimely demise, may be the better recording. Many think so. I'll just say that they are both exceptional. Included is the interview disc, which gives you a view into the person that was Glenn Gould. Technically, the Gould's mastery of the piano is simply mesmerizing.

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Absolutely Brilliant!!

I don't know if eccentricities are required in order to be a true artist, but this guy was both infinitely eccentric and so musically talented that he could make even people who normally preferred rap or metal fall in love with classical music. I had always heard of him being eccentric, but didn't realize how true it was til I listened to his interview on this.

Personally, I prefer his '55 concert when he was in his prime, but the '81 concert is also greatly appreciated since he died less than a year later.

Some other Glenn Gould materials:
32 Short Films About Glenn Gould
The Goldberg Variations - Glenn Gould Plays Bach
Glenn Gould - Life & Times
Glenn Gould - Extasis
The Glenn Gould Collection (The Russian Journey / Life & Times / Extasis)

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Tracks
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 1 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 2 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 3. Canon On The Unison | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 4 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 5 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 6. Canon On The Second | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 7 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 8 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 9. Canon On The Third | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 10. Fughetta | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 11 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 12. Canon On The Fourth | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 13 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 14 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 15. Canon On The Fifth | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 16. Overture | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 17 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 18. Canon On The Sixth | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 19 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 20 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 21. Canon On The Seventh | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 22. Alla Breve | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 23 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 24. Canon On The Octave | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 25 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 26 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 27. Canon On The Ninth | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 28 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 29 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 30. Quodlibet | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria Da Capo | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 1 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 2 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 3. Canon On The Unison | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 4 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 5 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 6. Canon On The Second | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 7 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 8 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 9. Canon On The Third | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 10. Fughetta | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 11 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 12. Canon On The Fourth | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 13 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 14 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 15. Canon On The Fifth | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 16. Overture | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 17 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 18. Canon On The Sixth | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 19 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 20 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 21. Canon On The Seventh | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 22. Alla Breve | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 23 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 24. Canon On The Octave | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 25 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 26 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 27. Canon On The Ninth | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 28 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 29 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 30. Quodlibet | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria Da Capo | Glen Gould Discusses His Peformances Of The Goldberg Variations With Time Page, August 22, 1982, Toronto, Canada | Studio Outtakes From The 1955 Goldberg Variations Recording Session

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