Audio CD review:
Johann Sebastian Bach - A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981)

Johann Sebastian Bach - A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981)

Band: Johann Sebastian Bach Title: A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981) Rating: Release Date: 2002-09-03 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 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 33: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria 34: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 1 35: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 2 36: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 3. Canon On The Unison 37: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 4 38: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 5 39: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 6. Canon On The Second 40: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 7 41: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 8 42: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 9. Canon On The Third 43: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 10. Fughetta 44: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 11 45: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 12. Canon On The Fourth 46: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 13 47: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 14 48: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 15. Canon On The Fifth 49: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 16. Overture 50: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 17 51: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 18. Canon On The Sixth 52: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 19 53: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 20 54: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 21. Canon On The Seventh 55: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 22. Alla Breve 56: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 23 57: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 24. Canon On The Octave 58: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 25 59: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 26 60: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 27. Canon On The Ninth 61: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 28 62: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 29 63: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 30. Quodlibet 64: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria Da Capo 65: Glen Gould Discusses His Peformances Of The Goldberg Variations With Time Page, August 22, 1982, Toronto, Canada 66: Studio Outtakes From The 1955 Goldberg Variations Recording Session

Really, so NO ONE in 1981 realized the analog tapes sounder better? 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. No reason for this review, unless you listen to rock There is no reason to listen to Glenn Gould unless you want your mind opened. 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). 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. . A State of Wonder Personally, I prefer Gould's 1981 performance with his more unified approach to the piece's underlying beat. Having the two very different recordings in one package has been an invaluable aid to my own attempts at playing the Goldberg Variations. 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. . HANDS DOWN, THE BEST THERE IS! I never get tired of hearing Glenn play. 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. . . ever! This CD is a treasure and I highly recommend it. . . if you couldn't already tell. Amazing playing but His playing and style is absolutely amazing. Glenn Gould has mastered the Bach, Goldberg Variations with out a question of doubt. 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. You can see a complete list of all Johann Sebastian Bach discography, or go back to the Johann Sebastian Bach tabs