Home   >   Music   >   Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould, T...
Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould, Tim Page - A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981)
Click photo to enlarge

Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould, Tim Page - A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981)

Facts

A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981)
Music Price: $19.97 $14.99
You save 25%!
As of Aug 23 11:20 EDT (details)

Buy from Amazon.co.ukBuy from Amazon.co.uk
Artist(s)Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould and Tim Page
StudioSony
Release DateSeptember 3, 2002
UPC Code696998770324
Buy this item$14.99 at Amazon.com
As of Aug 23 11:20 EDT (details)
3 Audio CD, Usually ships in 24 hours,
 

About Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould, Tim Page - A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981)

Glenn Gould's recording debut in 1955 of Bach's Goldberg Variations took the world by storm. His decidedly un-Romantic view, absolute technical skill, startling lucidity, and right-on rhythmic changes, combined with his eccentricities--audible humming, sometimes outrageously fast tempi--made him an instantly legendary pianist and elucidated Bach's music in a whole new way. Gould's final recording, 26 years later, was also of the Goldbergs. It's a more relaxed, sometimes much slower, more inward reading (although still very much his own, complete with oddly ferocious attacks and accents), in which he offers repeats of the first half of 15 of the Variations. Both performances are glorious, each in its own way, and this luxurious new set of three CDs is entertaining, a joy to hear, and revelatory; it belongs in any music lover's collection. The third CD is devoted to outtakes and chatter from recording sessions. At one point, Gould improvises "God Save the King" and exhibits how it turns into "The Star-Spangled Banner." And a long interview with critic Tim Page offers great insight into Gould's weird humor and unique outlook. A must-have collection. --Robert Levine Amazon.com

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria
  2. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 1
  3. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 2
  4. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 3. Canon On The Unison
  5. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 4
  6. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 5
  7. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 6. Canon On The Second
  8. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 7
  9. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 8
  10. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 9. Canon On The Third
  11. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 10. Fughetta
  12. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 11
  13. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 12. Canon On The Fourth
  14. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 13
  15. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 14
  16. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 15. Canon On The Fifth
  17. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 16. Overture
  18. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 17
  19. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 18. Canon On The Sixth
  20. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 19
  21. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 20
  22. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 21. Canon On The Seventh
  23. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 22. Alla Breve
  24. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 23
  25. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 24. Canon On The Octave
  26. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 25
  27. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 26
  28. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 27. Canon On The Ninth
  29. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 28
  30. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 29
  31. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 30. Quodlibet
  32. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria Da Capo
Disc 2
  1. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria
  2. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 1
  3. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 2
  4. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 3. Canon On The Unison
  5. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 4
  6. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 5
  7. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 6. Canon On The Second
  8. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 7
  9. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 8
  10. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 9. Canon On The Third
  11. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 10. Fughetta
  12. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 11
  13. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 12. Canon On The Fourth
  14. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 13
  15. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 14
  16. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 15. Canon On The Fifth
  17. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 16. Overture
  18. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 17
  19. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 18. Canon On The Sixth
  20. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 19
  21. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 20
  22. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 21. Canon On The Seventh
  23. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 22. Alla Breve
  24. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 23
  25. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 24. Canon On The Octave
  26. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 25
  27. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 26
  28. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 27. Canon On The Ninth
  29. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 28
  30. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 29
  31. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 30. Quodlibet
  32. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria Da Capo
Disc 3
  1. Glen Gould Discusses His Peformances Of The Goldberg Variations With Time Page, August 22, 1982, Toronto, Canada
  2. Studio Outtakes From The 1955 Goldberg Variations Recording Session

Similar CDs

Art of the Fugue - 70th Anniversary EditionBach: Goldberg VariationsThe Glenn Gould Edition - Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book IThe Glenn Gould Edition - Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book IIPartitas 1 2 & 3 - 70th Anniversary Edition
Art of the Fugue - 70th Anniversary EditionBach: Goldberg VariationsThe Glenn Gould Edition - Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book IThe Glenn Gould Edition - Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book IIPartitas 1 2 & 3 - 70th Anniversary Edition

 

User Reviews

Average user review: 4.5 (52 reviews)

rating: 5 QuoteReally, so NO ONE in 1981 realized the analog tapes sounder better?Quote
Most of us may remember the "perfect music forever" marketing that introduced CDs 25 years ago... those of us with working ears pretty quickly dismissed it for the hype it was... I've got both the '55 and '81 versions and now this release. I have NO regrets re the performance (of course) nor the sonics. My point is that I find it hard to believe that no one at what was then Columbia realized the analoge safety tape sounded so much better than the digital recording. More likely, someone did, but the idea of releasing a new Gould Goldberg, and in digital to boot, trumped releasing it in the "old," if albeit better-sounding analoge format. Not the first time commercial considerations clouded musical decisions. Still, a big "For Shame" in having us listen to the atrocious '81 version for +20 years. April 26, 2008

rating: 5 QuoteNo reason for this review, unless you listen to rockQuote
Well, after such reviews, what more is there to say? Except, don't get distracted or annoyed by Gould's humming along, that was a standard feature of his playing, he always hummed along, and it's part of the charm of having a recording of the greatest pianist ever (or certainly of the 20th century if someone wants to argue about it). There is no reason to listen to Glenn Gould unless you want your mind opened. The magic here is not Gould, it's Gould's two different interpretations of Bach, who was certainly the most spiritual of any composers.

For those of us who don't know anything about music, except for what it says to us, personally, there is no reason to buy this, unless you want to have an epiphany. If you want the same thrill in classical parlance as the first time you ever heard Geddy Lee sing, or Joe Satriani play, you'll want to by this recording. March 3, 2008

rating: 5 QuoteA State of WonderQuote
Having the two very different recordings in one package has been an invaluable aid to my own attempts at playing the Goldberg Variations. Personally, I prefer Gould's 1981 performance with his more unified approach to the piece's underlying beat. The bonus CD is also great as an insight into Gould's thinking to the '81 recording. Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase, and would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Gould or Bach. September 13, 2007

rating: 5 QuoteHANDS DOWN, THE BEST THERE IS!Quote
Having listened to the 'Goldbergs' over many thousands of times through the years with various artists, I still keep coming back to Glenn Gould's recordings as the very best that has ever been produced and the truest to what I believe Bach had intended. I never get tired of hearing Glenn play...ever! This CD is a treasure and I highly recommend it...if you couldn't already tell. August 29, 2007

rating: 2 QuoteAmazing playing butQuote
Glenn Gould has mastered the Bach, Goldberg Variations with out a question of doubt. His playing and style is absolutely amazing. The part that spoils the whole thing for me is when he starts humming. If you listen to it with the head phones on you can hear him humming away in the back ground. It is such a shame as he spoils his own brilliant performance. July 14, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...