Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould :: Bach: Goldberg Variations

Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould
Bach: Goldberg Variations
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (32) - Disc #1
1. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Aria
2. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 1
3. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 2
4. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 3
5. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 4
6. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 5
7. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 6
8. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 7
9. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 8
10. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 9
11. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 10
12. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 11
13. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 12
14. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 13
15. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 14
16. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 15
17. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 16
18. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 17
19. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 18
20. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 19
21. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 20
22. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 21
23. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 22
24. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 23
25. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 24
26. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 25
27. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 26
28. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 27
29. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 28
30. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 29
31. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 30
32. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Aria da capo

CD Details

All Artists: Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould
Title: Bach: Goldberg Variations
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Sony
Release Date: 10/25/1990
Album Type: Import
Genre: Classical
Styles: Historical Periods, Baroque (c.1600-1750), Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 074643847926

Synopsis

Amazon.com essential recording

In the summer of 1955, a brash, eccentric, and awesomely gifted 22-year-old pianist swept the didactic cobwebs off this monumental opus, and a star was born. For listeners weaned on romantic Bach stylings of Fischer, Casals, and Landowska, the effect was like stepping into an ice cold shower. Glenn Gould's agile, independent hands and hair-trigger rhythm ignited Bach's virtuosic writing with insight and irreverence, sprucing up the counterpoint with crisp articulation, perky accents, and jaw-dropping tempos. This debut recording is the best-known and arguably the finest of Gould's commercial discs. Buy it and hear why. --Jed Distler

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Member CD Reviews

Jeff R. (Pequod)
Reviewed on 12/9/2008...

One of the truly great recordings. A bit faster than most -- Gould also recorded a much slower (and more typical) version later. Highly recommended

2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

CD Reviews

There is a better version of this recording

C. Robinson | San Mateo, CA | 05/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A spirited, irreverant recording that turned the world on its ear back in 1955. Comparisons to his 1981 recording notwithstanding, this is an extraordinary performance with considerable historical value. However, it was given a 20-bit remaster in 1992 and re-released as "Glenn Gould Edition - Bach: Goldberg Variations" (Sony Catalog #52594). The remastered version has noticably clearer sound and more music: two fugues from 'The Well-Tempered Clavier' are thrown in as a bonus.If sound quality is important to you, the remastered version is worth the extra 5 bucks."

New Glenn Gould fan at middle age.

zoe11111 | Maryland , USA | 03/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm hardly a Bach affcionado although I've always enjoyed listening to his works in my life along with other composers. When I accidentally watched video clips of Glenn Gould's performance of Goldberg variations for the first time, It made me curiously emotional like no other. Words are inadequate to describe the child-like feeling after I listend to the first few variations. I walked over to my young sleepy cat and kissed his nose... That is what this particular recording made me do. Not everyone need to talk about classical music like a wine connoisseur. I feel lucky to have found this simple, yet sublime sound by this truly gifted pianist."

A revelation to the music world in 1955, still is in 2001

zoe11111 | 04/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is hard to underestimate this breakthrough recording by young Glenn Gould. At a time when Bach was very serious music, when few even wanted to touch his keyboard works, Gould started a storm of change with this recording. Just listening to pre-Gould recordings of Goldberg Variations, or even any Bach keyboard work, played with harpsichord or piano, and you'll find how presemptious and, in fact, a bit boring, Bach indeed could sound. People might argue that Gould more sounds like Gould than Bach, but is that really an issue? Even Bach, in good baroque tradition, was a well-known improvisor and imitator that changed his style frequently as demanded by his temper and audience. The key here is to move people with Bachs intentions, not to plainly copy. In fact, I like when I can hear who is playing, it adds personality and blood, especialy in the case of Mr Gould's tour de force and exquisite, almost hyphnotic tempi effects and phrasing. OK, I won't get deeper into that discussion. Gould died too young, and so far no one of the some 75 recoridings has surpassed him on the Goldbergs, my opinion. BUY THIS RECORD AND HIS 1981 VERSION. If you're a real buff, try his 1954 CBC and 1959 Salzburg live recordings as well."

Top of the top - Do not forget Salzbourg 1959

Lionel Marechal | Paris, France | 02/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At the top of the top. I listen to this one and to the 1981 as well. You probably need them both. Please do not forget the Salzbourg recital in 1959. It' is live. This is still Gould but more 'urgently' played and this time .. played for a public !"

GOULD PLAYS BEST VERSION OF GOLDBERG VARIATIONS

A. Michaelson | Bay Area, CA | 05/01/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Giving this CD only four stars was a tough decision to make. The album offers perhaps the best piano playing that I've ever heard. Gould's technical ability and speed are astounding, bringing to life Bach's incredible Goldberg Variations as no other pianist can. If my rating were based soley on performance quality, this CD would undoubtedly deserve five stars; unfortunately, the fact is that the recording was made in 1955, and even though it has been remastered, there is still a very noticable tape hiss. Also, Gould's famous humming/mumbling can be heard in some of the tracks, seriously detracting from what otherwise would be a perfect listening experience. Still, the playing is so marvelous that despite the noticable flaws, the album overall get's a strong four stars."