Search - Paul Hindemith, Glenn Gould :: Gould: The 3 Piano Sonatas (The Glenn Gould Edition)

What a joy!

J. Anderson | Monterey, CA USA | 08/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I concur with the review previous to this one! What a joy this recording! Hindemith's overlooked piano sonatas are given entrancing readings by the High Priest of the pianist's art, Glenn Gould. Surely no modern pianist's work is more moving than that of Gould. That perfectly configured sweetness of sound, always his very own, like an intelligent narcotic -whatever he plays! With the Hindemith, he's in his element, not only meeting all the requirements, but tossing them into the harmonious air page after page, shaping music that is so true to itself, it's scary! The Third Sonata in particular is a lesson in pianism, and in heart! What abandon! Gould always plays from the inside out, there are never any supurfluous thoughts to trim; it is as pure an art as you will encounter. And what marvelous pieces, these sonatas! Hindemith to this day remains under-appreciated, certainly under-played, although a number of recent recordings seem to be addressing this - and there is such a wealth of first-rate music from which to make a renaissance. Hindemith's music never disappoints, and consistently stirs up a heady response. To my mind, there is a discernable element of joy traceable in much of his music; despite the vicissitudes of a remarkable life, the creative flow not only never diminished, but indeed deepened- the quartets are all of a sound beauty, the magnificent Requiem, the essential pieces for solo instruments, all the 'useful' music, and these piano sonatas, perfect pieces in a remarkable panorama of musical delight here perfectly played."

Glenn Gould Tickles Hindemith with Aplomb

Frederic Kahler | Apalachicola, FL (before: Seattle, Las Vegas, Fran | 01/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sometimes a marriage between two minds produces rare offspring. This recording, of Toronto genius Glenn Gould's interpretations of the three piano sonatas by Paul Hindemith, is an endless delight of cool atonal rhythms and the restless, haunting fourths so typical of Hindemith's works. (After a few sessions with my stereo while studying the piano scores I have myself been inspired by this duo to write atonal music, mostly haunting chromatic pieces of short duration.) I'll even do housework to this album! This music may be aurally inaccessible to some, and it takes time to plunge whole-heartedly into this milieu, but start with the first movement of Hindemith's Second Piano Sonata, and I am sure you will be hooked. It reminds me a bit of an old Pavane by Faure and even the jazz classicism of Messrs. Gershwin, and Mr. Gould's steadfast piano beautifully renders this to life. Hindemith, who created lots of unusual music -- horn concertos, Gebrauchsmusik (simpler, interchangeable music for the livingroom performers) and opera carries us forward into a new millenium of musical pathos and color-combinations. Glenn Gould, whose inestimably effortless playing has inspired a new generation of couch-surfing stereoists and thinkers, makes his imprint here with these three piano sonatas. Enjoy with an open heart and the rest will fall in place. This album is sobering, inspiring and ultra-modern. Hindemith's sometimes glittery, sometimes martial, sometimes dolorous movements will have you plunking your own messages on the keyboard and tickling your own ivories, even, as Glenn Gould would often think, if it's all in your head. Piano music has never been more honest. This is a must-buy for any CD collection."

Taking Hindemith by the horns

Leonard Migliore | San Francisco, CA, USA | 11/22/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well, Mr. Gould certainly has strong opinions on how to play music. In these sonatas, he takes considerable liberties with the tempi, dynamics and meter that Hindemith clearly indicated in the score. Usually, Gould wins.The First Sonata is splendid. Gould's very slow first movement is really eloquent. Through the rest of the piece, Gould seems to be trying to explain the music to us: staccatos to separate notes, slow arpeggios, long delays between movements to let us catch our breaths. The final movement, with impossibly crisp playing leading to the massive finale, is better than I imagined the piece to be.I never liked the Second Sonata but Gould makes it pleasant.The Third Sonata is sort of dull except for the final fugue. Gould was always a fan of counterpoint and this thing is a real jigsaw puzzle that Gould assembles while you listen. A real wow.I used to play these sonatas when I could play piano, and this recording showed me a great deal that I had never imagined."