I remember that Gould once told an interviewer that they had tried everything to minimize the recording of his vocalizations over the years and that once an engineer gave Gould a gas mask to wear as a gag. At any rate, Gould said it was awful that he hummed, but when he tried to stop doing it his playing was negatively affected.
I'll hold out for Sony's upcoming "AM Radio mono remasters" of the Bach stuff, so I can honor Gould's wishes to hear the English suites on a 1950s Oldsmobile speaker while driving North.
I've just discovered your program on RUclips and have been happily bingeing on your stuff for several days. Your acidic but delightful wit reminds me of Jim Svejda. I'm still grinning over this crazy piece on the Gould Bach Boxes. Thank you.
Every time they used the master tapes they stretched and so they had to compensate more and more... When I was about 12 I heard the record of Leonard Rose playing with Gould...I had heard Gould's English Suites because it came into our family via a gift one year or so earlier. Anyway, music would enter my brain consciously & subconsciously and I "picked up" something in the record that I "knew" (even though I was hearing it for the first time). So I looked through our records, went straight for the English suites, and discovered the Pianist was the same !! it could have been his idiosyncratic trills but I think it was more... that explained everything to me. ; the expression and intent of a recording depends most of all on the performer ( this was real detective work that a 12 year old makes ) just as a film's flavour is defined by the director... Soon I could "hear" or recognize which conductor I was listening to... the underlying expression of that conductor would come through no matter what orchestra was used... though if a conductor has his fixed orch. so much the better. Now I cannot input music into my brain as I could when I was a kid... I have to listen multiple times to hear the intent behind the notes. But anyway I listen, teach and play everyday !! Glenn Gould was a genius that changed my life.
The constant repackagings/remasterings of Gould have been a running joke with me and another classical collecting buddy for years. it was fun listening to you call this out.
Hilarious yet informative and helpful. I've been pouring through your videos since I discovered them a few months ago. Many chuckles along with your astute observations. But this one made me laugh out loud! Unfortunately, the Bach Box is not available for a reasonable price in 2024. Ripe for re-issue? Thanks again for your work!
What a delight your channel is, and specially this issue. I wander how many of us buy even music and books we already have and love, because of it's tempting new package... I know I did a few times (blushing).
I bought the original blue Bach box for $80 when it first came out, such a shame they didn't just stick with that one. All the extra Canadian Broadcast Company stuff is great. I also bought the Complete Glenn Gould Columbia Album collection when it came out for $100 (which I now see is $999!!) because I wanted everything else, so technically I believe I have all the remastered stuff in this new box. I didn't necessarily want all the overlap but I would never sell the Blue Box because of all the extra stuff. I didn't notice huge differences between the two either as far as remastering for the Bach. Some of the other non-Bach stuff had more clarity over older pressings I'd had, but not so much in the Bach recordings. Sad thing is there are still several things that aren't in either box set and you still have to buy separately to get all of Glenn's artistry.
Ha! I’m usually puzzled by reviews of yours that describe a record or series of records as “unnecessary.” Since I’ve probably heard less than 5% as many records as you have, I don’t really have a sense of where the catalog can use more recordings of given repertoire and where an album is “necessary.” But I can certainly see your point here.
Gould absolutely loved that 15 Canon. He talks about it in the interview with Tim Page included in the 'A State of Wonder' CD compilation. (But you all probably know this.)
They also did a triple CD called A Sense of Wonder or The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 & 1981 with a third disc of him talking about the two versions. This pack was issued in 2002.
When I want Bach on the piano, my first recourse is to Perahia. But when the 1980 version of Gould's Goldbergs first came out, I loved it: it swung and sang (so did he, but it was like he couldn't contain himself). I rushed out and got Gould's two- and three-part inventions and the French Suites. Yuck! Just listened to the first English Suite--still not amazed. I'll keep on listening to other pianist (it's not like there aren't a lot to choose from).
Dave, I love your channel, though I admit to not watching everything. I just got the new box you're reviewing. I'm giving away my old Gould Bach CDs to my girlfriend. I just put on the Beethoven 1st Concerto. What immediately struck me was the sound. Close my eyes and I'm listening to a Columbia LP with it's distinctive (to my ears) warm sound. The violin sonatas I listened to earlier today sounded great, too, in both senses of the word. Cheers!
I thought the reason for the many re-releases was because the classical music recording industry runs in the red financially compared to popular music, so keeping the available versions current helps promote sales not to experienced collectors but to new buyers so after many years the cost of the recordings can be "recooped" . I saw Lorin Maazel on TV one time saying after 25 years of re-releasing one of his recordings it was finally in the black. This problem can affect what new recordings can be financed so I feel we should be tolerant of re-releases.
I am very tolerant of re-releases that have not previously been available for some time. I welcome them for the reasons you suggest, but that it clearly not the issue here. There is no reason why a label should not simply leave a popular title by a major artist in print and promote it accordingly to new audiences, other than the cynical fact that they wish to sell the same thing to audiences that already have it and so have little faith that those new listeners actually exist.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Dave: isn't the reason they keep re-releasing product not only for the constantly improving technology but to re-fresh the covers? Otherwise, it's like trying to sell a car model every year without it ever being changed. Just thinking like a capitalist here.
You know, with that humming, you've got a bright future starting a side channel of ASMR videos. "Hurwitz Hums Gould Singing Bach (4 Hours)" You may scoff, but it's a brave new future in which we live. You could probably retire of the ad revenue.
I really don't recall--only because I'm 1,000 miles from home right now--whether it has "the chair," but I have the Glenn Gould original jackets edition. It--the chair--is surely not on the outside of the too-flimsy box. Maybe I need to search the booklet. Surely, the chair is somewhere inside, but I somehow don't think it gets a picture all to itself.
Dave, if you don't release your own recording of your Complete Vocalizations from this and your other episodes, some fan is going to beat you to it and cut you out of the profits.
This reissues of reissues of reissues is the exact issue (see what I did there?) I have with the existing Blomstedt Box. The very moment I buy it, they will issue the Complete Big Box O’ Herbert with SFSO. And let’s not even get started on what Sony has always done with Bernstein. Geez Louise! Just give us the Complete Lenny and get it over with!!! Same with Ormandy. Surely his entire catalog is worth a Box.
The situation with the various Bernstein boxes is almost as out of control as the Gould boxes. But Sony has always reissued their catalog over and over and over again. Right now I am stuck on whether I should get the Barbirolli complete box that just came out. I mean, I know the Halle wasn't great, but I am curious about the remasterings and when it goes out of print will I be slapping myself if I pass? I'm on the fence...
David, I like your reviews and have subscribed to your channel. But I prefer Bach with the harpsichord. I'll stick with Landowska, Pinnoch or Leonhardt.
@@franciscojaviermunozgarcia2609 Francisco, Thanks for directing me to Zuzana. I just finished listening to some of her Couperin. ¡Que biografÍa. Lo mismo se aplica a Maria Yudina. Hay que vencer el odio y el miedo.
David: This really doesn't have anything to do with this review, but I figured it would be as good a clip as any to ask this. Would you be willing someday to do in one of your "chats", a tour of your listening equipment (hardware and speakers)? I'd be interested in that as you're a music critic. I'd like to know what your stereo equipment is.
Re Lecter, I always thought it would have been good to have the Goldberg excerpts played by Anthony Hopkins himself; not on screen, obviously - it would have been hard to get a Bösendorfer into that cage ;) Joking apart, he's quite an accomplished pianist.
I have a good friend who admires Gould, especially his "Goldberg Variations". For those of you out there who like him, that's great. I'm glad you enjoy him. Personally for me, I can't stand him. He's a phenomenal technician, I'll give him that. However I can't stand his interpretations and his accursed humming is beyond my ability to endure. I can hum on my own for free, I don't need to spend money to hear someone else do it.
You're not alone. I'm glad to see that not everyone mindlessly worships at the Church of Gould. I enjoy him selectively, but I think the difference between him and many other artists is that I believe he knew very well when he was being provocative. The others think they're being smart and meaningful.
I know what you mean. However, there’s a gripping live recording with Mitropulous of the Dminor concerto. Equally large forces but more lithe than the efforts with Bernstein or Golshmann. Gould, less calculated as well.
Did they include the Zenph "reperformance" of the Goldbergs? The completist MUST have that recording with a robot playing a richer sounding piano in a resonant space. And no humming--I guess the robot couldn't hum.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Oddly enough, none of the Gould boxes include the Zenph Goldbergs, which is out of print as a physical disc, but available as a download. Here's my review: www.classicstoday.com/review/review-13701/
Not any more, they're not. I wish I knew how they do that. I'm very careful to make sure to remove that option before I post, but somehow it returns sometimes.
Being Canadian. The CBC was synonymous with 2 thing's on the weekend. Hockey Night and Glenn Gould specials. Thank's this brought a smile to my face.
I remember that Gould once told an interviewer that they had tried everything to minimize the recording of his vocalizations over the years and that once an engineer gave Gould a gas mask to wear as a gag. At any rate, Gould said it was awful that he hummed, but when he tried to stop doing it his playing was negatively affected.
I'll hold out for Sony's upcoming "AM Radio mono remasters" of the Bach stuff, so I can honor Gould's wishes to hear the English suites on a 1950s Oldsmobile speaker while driving North.
Lmao
The humming to get round the licensing issues is PRICELESS! Thank you.
I've just discovered your program on RUclips and have been happily bingeing on your stuff for several days. Your acidic but delightful wit reminds me of Jim Svejda. I'm still grinning over this crazy piece on the Gould Bach Boxes. Thank you.
You're welcome!
Every time they used the master tapes they stretched and so they had to compensate more and more... When I was about 12 I heard the record of Leonard Rose playing with Gould...I had heard Gould's English Suites because it came into our family via a gift one year or so earlier. Anyway, music would enter my brain consciously & subconsciously and I "picked up" something in the record that I "knew" (even though I was hearing it for the first time). So I looked through our records, went straight for the English suites, and discovered the Pianist was the same !! it could have been his idiosyncratic trills but I think it was more... that explained everything to me. ; the expression and intent of a recording depends most of all on the performer ( this was real detective work that a 12 year old makes ) just as a film's flavour is defined by the director... Soon I could "hear" or recognize which conductor I was listening to... the underlying expression of that conductor would come through no matter what orchestra was used... though if a conductor has his fixed orch. so much the better. Now I cannot input music into my brain as I could when I was a kid... I have to listen multiple times to hear the intent behind the notes. But anyway I listen, teach and play everyday !! Glenn Gould was a genius that changed my life.
The constant repackagings/remasterings of Gould have been a running joke with me and another classical collecting buddy for years. it was fun listening to you call this out.
Hilarious yet informative and helpful. I've been pouring through your videos since I discovered them a few months ago. Many chuckles along with your astute observations. But this one made me laugh out loud! Unfortunately, the Bach Box is not available for a reasonable price in 2024. Ripe for re-issue? Thanks again for your work!
What a delight your channel is, and specially this issue. I wander how many of us buy even music and books we already have and love, because of it's tempting new package... I know I did a few times (blushing).
Please do a program on the “weirdest Top 10 Glenn Gould recordings” - bambi-eyes pleaaaaassseee!
I bought the original blue Bach box for $80 when it first came out, such a shame they didn't just stick with that one. All the extra Canadian Broadcast Company stuff is great. I also bought the Complete Glenn Gould Columbia Album collection when it came out for $100 (which I now see is $999!!) because I wanted everything else, so technically I believe I have all the remastered stuff in this new box. I didn't necessarily want all the overlap but I would never sell the Blue Box because of all the extra stuff. I didn't notice huge differences between the two either as far as remastering for the Bach. Some of the other non-Bach stuff had more clarity over older pressings I'd had, but not so much in the Bach recordings. Sad thing is there are still several things that aren't in either box set and you still have to buy separately to get all of Glenn's artistry.
4:35 "supernatural, digital articulation" ... I love you for saying that!
Ha! I’m usually puzzled by reviews of yours that describe a record or series of records as “unnecessary.” Since I’ve probably heard less than 5% as many records as you have, I don’t really have a sense of where the catalog can use more recordings of given repertoire and where an album is “necessary.” But I can certainly see your point here.
Thanks David. Great as always. "Hannibal Lecter's preference for the Goldberg Variations." Priceless.
Gould absolutely loved that 15 Canon. He talks about it in the interview with Tim Page included in the 'A State of Wonder' CD compilation. (But you all probably know this.)
6:00! Thank you so much! I've been saying that for years about those stupid AI things they pretend to make play like Gould!
They also did a triple CD called A Sense of Wonder or The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 & 1981 with a third disc of him talking about the two versions. This pack was issued in 2002.
When I want Bach on the piano, my first recourse is to Perahia. But when the 1980 version of Gould's Goldbergs first came out, I loved it: it swung and sang (so did he, but it was like he couldn't contain himself). I rushed out and got Gould's two- and three-part inventions and the French Suites. Yuck! Just listened to the first English Suite--still not amazed. I'll keep on listening to other pianist (it's not like there aren't a lot to choose from).
Dave - Next installment: Richter boxed sets and re-issues. Ask Jed....No humming though. LOVE your humming.
Dave, I love your channel, though I admit to not watching everything. I just got the new box you're reviewing. I'm giving away my old Gould Bach CDs to my girlfriend. I just put on the Beethoven 1st Concerto. What immediately struck me was the sound. Close my eyes and I'm listening to a Columbia LP with it's distinctive (to my ears) warm sound. The violin sonatas I listened to earlier today sounded great, too, in both senses of the word. Cheers!
Great, and why on earth should you watch everything?
@@DavesClassicalGuide Doesn't everybody?
@@martinfrank9351 Beats me. I just try to provide plenty of stuff for a variety of interests. After that...
I'm just thankful Gould was so prolific in the recording studio before his short 50 years were up.
I thought the reason for the many re-releases was because the classical music recording industry runs in the red financially compared to popular music, so keeping the available versions current helps promote sales not to experienced collectors but to new buyers so after many years the cost of the recordings can be "recooped" . I saw Lorin Maazel on TV one time saying after 25 years of re-releasing one of his recordings it was finally in the black. This problem can affect what new recordings can be financed so I feel we should be tolerant of re-releases.
I am very tolerant of re-releases that have not previously been available for some time. I welcome them for the reasons you suggest, but that it clearly not the issue here. There is no reason why a label should not simply leave a popular title by a major artist in print and promote it accordingly to new audiences, other than the cynical fact that they wish to sell the same thing to audiences that already have it and so have little faith that those new listeners actually exist.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Dave: isn't the reason they keep re-releasing product not only for the constantly improving technology but to re-fresh the covers? Otherwise, it's like trying to sell a car model every year without it ever being changed. Just thinking like a capitalist here.
@@debussy10 No, I don't think that has anything to do with it.
this is the funniest video Dave has made yet. oh I like him.
Thank you!
Yes, it was quite humorous! I needed some laughs today.
Your cheerfull Humour - So Refreshing !! :)
Say Glenn Gould Bach Box five times fast, I triple-dog dare you. Mazel tov on hitting 2K+ subscribers!
Thank you!
But...which is the difference between Glenn Gould Edition and Glenn Gould Collection? I mean, the single cds edition...
I've got the blue box. That'll do me.
You know, with that humming, you've got a bright future starting a side channel of ASMR videos. "Hurwitz Hums Gould Singing Bach (4 Hours)"
You may scoff, but it's a brave new future in which we live. You could probably retire of the ad revenue.
From your pen to...
I really don't recall--only because I'm 1,000 miles from home right now--whether it has "the chair," but I have the Glenn Gould original jackets edition. It--the chair--is surely not on the outside of the too-flimsy box. Maybe I need to search the booklet. Surely, the chair is somewhere inside, but I somehow don't think it gets a picture all to itself.
Thank you ! So funny! Makes me laughing and happy!❤
Dave, if you don't release your own recording of your Complete Vocalizations from this and your other episodes, some fan is going to beat you to it and cut you out of the profits.
This reissues of reissues of reissues is the exact issue (see what I did there?) I have with the existing Blomstedt Box. The very moment I buy it, they will issue the Complete Big Box O’ Herbert with SFSO. And let’s not even get started on what Sony has always done with Bernstein. Geez Louise! Just give us the Complete Lenny and get it over with!!! Same with Ormandy. Surely his entire catalog is worth a Box.
The situation with the various Bernstein boxes is almost as out of control as the Gould boxes. But Sony has always reissued their catalog over and over and over again.
Right now I am stuck on whether I should get the Barbirolli complete box that just came out. I mean, I know the Halle wasn't great, but I am curious about the remasterings and when it goes out of print will I be slapping myself if I pass? I'm on the fence...
David, I like your reviews and have subscribed to your channel. But I prefer Bach with the harpsichord. I'll stick with Landowska, Pinnoch or Leonhardt.
Fair enough!
@@franciscojaviermunozgarcia2609 Francisco, Thanks for directing me to Zuzana. I just finished listening to some of her Couperin. ¡Que biografÍa. Lo mismo se aplica a Maria Yudina. Hay que vencer el odio y el miedo.
What's your opinion of the Complete Columbia Albums Glenn Gould "USB Stick?"
Who cares?
Gould's singing/humming doesn't bother me at all. I liken it to fret noise on a guitar, which almost impossible to eliminate as well.
David: This really doesn't have anything to do with this review, but I figured it would be as good a clip as any to ask this. Would you be willing someday to do in one of your "chats", a tour of your listening equipment (hardware and speakers)? I'd be interested in that as you're a music critic. I'd like to know what your stereo equipment is.
My stereo equipment is my ears, and that's all I plan to say about it! But I understand the curiosity. I just don't think the answer means anything.
Fair enough.
Thank you for a very good, informative (and funny) review 😊
Re Lecter, I always thought it would have been good to have the Goldberg excerpts played by Anthony Hopkins himself; not on screen, obviously - it would have been hard to get a Bösendorfer into that cage ;) Joking apart, he's quite an accomplished pianist.
...and cannibal.
Horowitz also the subject of many reissues. Do you have a video on those? I only found this by accident
No, I don't.
I have a good friend who admires Gould, especially his "Goldberg Variations". For those of you out there who like him, that's great. I'm glad you enjoy him. Personally for me, I can't stand him. He's a phenomenal technician, I'll give him that. However I can't stand his interpretations and his accursed humming is beyond my ability to endure. I can hum on my own for free, I don't need to spend money to hear someone else do it.
You're not alone. I'm glad to see that not everyone mindlessly worships at the Church of Gould. I enjoy him selectively, but I think the difference between him and many other artists is that I believe he knew very well when he was being provocative. The others think they're being smart and meaningful.
Also, I do want to thank you for this humorous and insightful review, even if it's an artist I don't care for. I also appreciate your opinions.
Hello can you please talk about classical music streaming in comparison to cd's. or maybe on streaming and classical music in general?
I honestly don't see what there is to talk about. I prefer to stick to the music itself and let people find their happiest medium.
OMG! Hilarious😂
When you say Gould's BACH was amazing, I assume you mean the keyboarding and not the humming
Both. Of course!
Great playing by Gould but the concerto recordings wear a heavy tread and are painful to my ears !
I know what you mean. However, there’s a gripping live recording with Mitropulous of the Dminor concerto. Equally large forces but more lithe than the efforts with Bernstein or Golshmann. Gould, less calculated as well.
Did they include the Zenph "reperformance" of the Goldbergs? The completist MUST have that recording with a robot playing a richer sounding piano in a resonant space. And no humming--I guess the robot couldn't hum.
It squeaked--needed a touch more lubricant.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Oddly enough, none of the Gould boxes include the Zenph Goldbergs, which is out of print as a physical disc, but available as a download. Here's my review: www.classicstoday.com/review/review-13701/
What do you think of Gould's Beethoven?
That's a topic for another day!
@@DavesClassicalGuide excellent, can't wait, thanks!!!
Hilarious, the humming makes all the difference...no need to play samples 😉
sooo funny, thanks
Glenn gould... his playing drives me up the wall!
grrrrr the adds were there again
Not any more, they're not. I wish I knew how they do that. I'm very careful to make sure to remove that option before I post, but somehow it returns sometimes.
David Hurwitz Why not get an outside sponsor for these videos? Perhaps a maker of tam tams?