This video is a magnificent example of musical peak performance. It’s possible that Glenn Gould had Asperger syndrome, a disorder related to autism. He really makes Johann Sebastian Bach come alive!
10 Responses to Glenn Gould Playing Bach’s Goldberg Variations
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Top Peak Performance Articles for 2006 » The Graham English Blog -
December 22, 2006
[…] Glenn Gould Playing Bach’s Goldberg Variations […]
Where did you find out that G.G. could have had Asperger’s??
I worked in Spec. Ed. and I also teach piano. I really believe that a lot of people in the Arts are just an inch away from a number of various syndromes; not meaning to poke fun at anyone who has an affliction of course. Peace DJ
I remembered reading about Gould having asperger’s a while back, but for this post, I referenced his Wikipedia entry (See link in post above). There’s also dispute that this was indeed a fact becuase the diagnosis was done post-mortem.
Your theory is interesting. Because there’s a part of me — just a part of me — that has always wanted to be an autistic savant. I envy their freakish artistic skills! See my post, Foolish Wise Ones. In particular, pay attention to Professor Allan Snyder. His theory is similar to yours. 🙂
Wow! This guy Glenn is AWESOME!!!!!
What a study in Technique!!!!!
Gould was the quintessential interpreter of Bach’s music. There’s a cool movie about him called Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould.
Anthony,
G.G. had chops, that’s for sure. But, I’ve never thought about technique when I hear his recordings. I grew up listening to his “Goldberg Variations.” He recorded them twice: Once in the 50’s and again in the 80’s. He was the first “Concert Pianist” of the 20th century to not only play the music of J.S. Bach in public, but to adapt it to the modern piano and make it rock! Peace DJ
Hi Dana and Graham,I’d heard of him but wow so cool! and your ideas are stimulating…One of your comments Graham comes to mind about the importance of singinng what you play…..
Hey get that META going!!!!
ROCK ON!!!!!
Wonderful both to watch and listen to. So many people with this and similar learning disabilaties are briliant when it comes to music.
Wendy
Interestingly, he’s fairly well spoken, too. I really enjoy listening to Gould play Bach. I have both of the Goldberg Variation recordings, as well as the Art of Fugue, the first few keyboard concerti and select Inventions and such. They’re easily some of my favorite Bach recordings.
Mine too.