birth of genius

two of my favourite musicians were born on this day (September 25th).

Dmitri Dmitrievich Shostakovich (1906-1975)

and

Glenn Herbert Gould (1932-1982)

as far as i know, Glenn performed, or at least recorded Shostakovich once; Shostakovich's Quintet for Strings and Piano, Op. 57, with the Symphonia Quartet.

i couldn't find any other overlap between the two...

my favourite Shostakovich piece is his Symphony No. 5. It's got so much in it, and it brings back great memories. I was in the Edmonton Youth Orchestra years and years ago when they played the piece, and did the english horn solo. there is nothing quite like playing a great powerful orchestral piece like the Symphony 5 with a group that is tight and rocking.

happy birthday Dmitri

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my favorite Gould performance is his 1981 recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations. although it was his 1955 recording at the start of his career that really got him going. i just like the 1981 recording more, although the 1955 recording is more...spirited...
the 1981 recording seems denser.
kinda like a french bread versus a thick multigrain....
or maybe it was just that the 1981 was a better recording because of the technology gap between the 50's and the 80's.

now that technology gap isn't going to be an issue.
tonight on CBC Radio 2, on In Performance they are playing a live recording of Glenn Gould's Goldberg Variations. i say live because they have a piano hooked up to a computer and a bunch of do-hickies so that it plays the same as how Glenn played it on his 1955 performance. Then they can re-record it with modern mics and technology.

sounds like it will be good. i'm listening to the lead up right now....

the music just started...

it's brilliant and going to be a new classic...the mono 1951 recording was powerful...this is so much better.

happy birthday Glenn

Replies
D
26 September 06

I was just happy to have the Wagner cycle on CBC 2. Now to wait and see if they put out the four operas as a single release.

Oh, and J, check out the latest previews of Warhammer: Mark of Chaos. It looks... incredible.

bneedle
28 September 06

I like th '81 recording as well. But, if you're really into Gould, do yourself a favour and listen to his documentaries (e.g. The Solitude Triology). In them, he applies musical principles so that, you're not just listening to a documentary, its also a kind of musical composition. One of my favourite stories about Gould is that, to train his mind to be able to keep track of separate lines in the music, he would go to a crowded restaurant and, one by one, tune into all of the conversations taking place at the surrounding tables. In the end, he would be simulataneously monitoring any number of conversations. h

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