Glenn Gould - Art of the Fugue - 70th Anniversary Edition
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Free Music Notes for Art of the Fugue - 70th Anniversary Edition
Free Music Review: Pure Gould
Hit: 4 Stars
There never was another Bach interpreter the likes of Glenn Gould. And this recording is as good an example as any of his unique style--which made him both a worshiped cult figure and an object of scorn. Objectively, his playing is highly skilled but often erratic. On this recording, more than many others, his trademark sing-along humming is plain--often off-key, sometimes inventing another fugue part.
Probably no other performer was ever as fully immersed in the music of Bach. Gould made it his lifelong passion, almost to the exclusion of other composers. The result is both exciting and exasperating. I think Gould's Bach recordings, especially this one, with all of its oddities and weaknesses, should have a place in the music library of every serious music listener, especially of those who understand and appreciate Bach.
I give this only four stars because the recording technique and re-mastering are often uneven. Recordings made at different times under differing circumstances are placed in sequence with obvious discontinuity. But those are quibbles.
This should not be the only recording one has of this music. It's faults are too many. Nevertheless, I rate it a "must have" in spite of its obvious weaknesses.
Free Music Review: A must for fans
Hit: 4 Stars
The selection of 'the art of the fugue'by Glenn Gould is a must have for fans of Gould. It is a shame that he did not record the whole piece.Free Music Review: Worth getting for Contrapunctus XIV, but for full performance look elsewhere
Hit: 3 Stars
This is a partial performance on organ paired with a partial performance on piano. I didn't care too much for the organ (although Gould's very "un-organistic" articulation does work with these pieces, I miss the unique expression of his piano playing). Some of the piano recordings sound like somebody surreptitiously taped them on a concealed tape recorder.
If you want a complete Art of Fugue on piano that's as close to Gould as it gets, go with Tatiana Nikolayeva's stellar 2 CD-recording on Hyperion (CDA66631/2). I have 9 AoF performances in my collection (piano, organ, string quartet, Hermann Scherchen's orchestral arrangement), and Nikolayeva's set is my favorite by far. (It also includes the two Ricercars from The Musical Offering BWV1079 and the four Duets BWV 802-805, originally for organ.)
However, if you're as much of a Bach nut as I am, the Gould CD is worth getting just for Gould's incredible performance of Contrapunctus XIV (the final unfinished fugue).
Free Music Review: Gould's Most Errant Interpretation
Hit: 1 Stars
Mr. Khekoyan, who reviews this disk below, is quite correct that it is errant in tempi and in percussive interpretation. I'm not in agreement with him about Glenn Gould's stature as the foremost interpreter of Bach of the century. I'd suggest listening to the performance of Menno van Delft, which is included in the Bach Edition complete works produced by Brilliant Classics. There are any number of people who might nominate Gustav Leonhardt, Trevor Pinnock, or Bob van Asperen as more insightful interpreters of Bach than Glenn Gould. Don't let Gould's curious cult status mislead you; his performances are more quirky than competent.
Or, if you are attracted to the Art of Fugue rather than the Artist, you might listen to the performance of the Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet, also available on CD. Though there is no historical justification for playing Bach's harpsichord music on recorders, the LSQ makes fine and insightful music on their wooden flutes, large and small. At times they sound more organistic than Mr. Gould on his modern behemoth.