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Glenn Gould

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Glenn Gould was a Canadian pianist and radio producer, born on 25 September 1932 in Toronto and died on 4 October 1982. His mother gave him piano lessons, and at the age of ten he entered the Toronto conservatory. At twelve he passed his final piano examination with the highest marks. In 1952, together with his childhood friend Robert Fulford, he founded New Music Associates, which organised his first performances, including his debut with Bach's Goldberg Variations.

Music and breakthrough

With The Goldberg Variations of 1956 he became world famous. He was regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century, above all as an interpreter of Bach. His playing stood out for its technical mastery and its ability to make Bach's polyphony audible with clarity. He sat low at the piano and played at a fast tempo, yet every note remained separate and distinct. He left most Romantic piano music alone. He chose mainly Bach and Beethoven, and also Berg, Schoenberg and Křenek, among others.

Influence

Gould was also a writer and broadcaster. He made television programmes about classical music and three radio documentaries, the Solitude Trilogy, about remote parts of Canada, in which he edited voices and sounds together as music. In this way he showed that a recording can itself be an art form.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to the opening of the Goldberg Variations of 1956 and notice how each hand plays a melody of its own. Hear how clearly you can follow both lines at once.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists