The Goldberg Variations, reprised

[PrinceMyshkin]

The 1982 Glenn Gould performance
of Bach’s Goldberg Variations
is the restructuring of time
from its mindless, mechanical forward march
into something that reflects
on the beauty
and tragic necessity of its creation,
time savouring its own passage
as if each of us were to savour
the uniqueness of our every breath.



Those who are interested ought to run, not walk, to a video store that might carry "Glenn Gould Hereafter" and I betcha you might recognise the precious few exalted moments that gave rise to the above!

[~Sophia~]

Hi Prince. I looked it up on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLQVg0AFlGo and the first thing I wondered is what possessed Bach to write a series of mind numbing piano scales??? Ugghh, shades of piano lessons and a teacher that smacked my knuckles because I played faster than the metronome.

The second thing I noticed was how very much Glenn Gould reminded me of Woody Allen. While I couldn't bring myself to listen to the whole thing, I'd be interested in watching the documentary to see what inspired such a passionate poem. Cheers!:)

[PrinceMyshkin]

Hi Prince. I looked it up on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLQVg0AFlGo and the first thing I wondered is what possessed Bach to write a series of mind numbing piano scales??? Ugghh, shades of piano lessons and a teacher that smacked my knuckles because I played faster than the metronome.

Ouch! Ouch! The glory of the part that inspired my poem was that the tempo was as slow as it could possibly be without losing the musical line.

[Virgil]

I'm not sure I've ever heard Bach's Goldberg Variations, but I'll look them up later this evening. As to the poem, pretty. I loved the closing lines as you strive for a comparison:

time savouring its own passage
as if each of us were to savour
the uniqueness of our every breath.:)

[PrinceMyshkin]

I'm not sure I've ever heard Bach's Goldberg Variations, but I'll look them up later this evening. As to the poem, pretty. I loved the closing lines as you strive for a comparison:
:)

Oh, you can't (or shouldn't) look up the Goldberg Variations, you have to live them! And please, if you have any love of classical music, or miracles, rent that DVD: "Glenn Gould Hereafter"

[Virgil]

Oh, you can't (or shouldn't) look up the Goldberg Variations, you have to live them! And please, if you have any love of classical music, or miracles, rent that DVD: "Glenn Gould Hereafter"

OK, thanks. :)