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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=298154612-04102012><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=3>Well you know I greatly admire Brendel and had the joy to
hear him in concert in Toronto. However, his comments about GG are about
as far off the mark as he accuses Gould of. However, Brendel is singing
from his own well known song book and he represents a Germanic purist school
which has it's fans, it has it's strengths and after a while it's obvious short
comings. One cannot ever recall hearing a piano piece of Beethoven,
Schubert or Schuman played by Kempf as revelatory. Never.
Beautifully played but always "urtext", safe and within proper boundaries, that
Brendel refers to. Kempf's music making was never boring but it was always
predictable. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=298154612-04102012><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=298154612-04102012><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=3>Gould hated this mentality and as an artist he resolutely
waged war against that school of thought. Brendel is correct in suggesting
that some (he would say most) of Gould's interpretations are not
successful. I would never refer to Brendel's "Goldburg Variations" (did he
record it?) but I would listen to Murray Peraiah, Ivo Pogerelich or Angela
Hewitt. I cannot possibly imagine Horowitz trying the Goldberg's nor would
I encourage that entire generation of titans (including Artur Rubinstein).
Perish the thought. Though, Brendel's unkind words about Horowitz do not
take into consideration the dazzling Scarlatti - especially the younger
Horowitz. Brendel does not like Rach, ok. I happen to adore Rach's
music and yes, it is often heart on the sleeve but for me it all radiates great
musicality and emotion. Especially delightful are some unusual harmonic
cadences that come out of nowhere.....I love his music...what can I
say?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=298154612-04102012><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=298154612-04102012><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=3>Fred</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> f_minor
[mailto:f_minor-bounces@glenngould.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>maryellen
jensen<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, October 03, 2012 7:26 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
f_minor@glenngould.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [f_minor] Beethoven for
Fred<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4>Fred,</FONT><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4><BR></FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"
size=4><BR></FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4> A bit of der
Brendel on your chosen topic:</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"
size=4><BR></FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4><BR></FONT><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4><SPAN class=ecxreadable
id=ecxreviewTextContainer281750337><SPAN
id=ecxfreeText4557652826002724675><I><EM><B>"</B></EM>A<EM> well-known American
author...once asked various pianists what they thought of Horowitz. I was unable
to contribute to his book because, as I told him, I was more interested in
musical realities than musical myths.<BR><BR>I was not as enthusiastic about
Horowitz the artist as many of my colleagues. And I was not so captivated by him
as a pianist either, since I found that his kind of virtuosity rarely served the
music as I understood it.<BR><BR>...you can either illuminate works with a
spotlight from without, or develop them from within....the spotlights from
without are embodied for me particularly clearly in Glenn Gould. In my view, he
was not interested in deciphering a work from within, but wished instead, as
unexpectedly as possible, to illuminate it from without. He went so far as to
actually hamper an understanding of a composer, and maltreat him, in order to be
original at all costs. It was clearly compulsive.<BR><BR>Gould to me was a
classic example of what a performer should not be; as an eccentric, he seemed
determined to oppose the wishes of the composer or go against the character of
the piece.<BR><BR>I've always asked myself: why does this man, who is so gifted,
treat composers in such a disgraceful way? It seems to me that quite a few
people love this kind of sadism...There is nothing wrong in playing pieces in a
variety of ways - but please do so within the limits, within the character and
structure of the piece itself. Gould deliberately oversteps these limits, or he
is simply not aware of them.<BR><BR>...it seems to me that he has no interest in
all in the character of the piece. He is not aware that it exists...He does not
consider that there might be a character which is indissolubly connected with
the piece, which one must find and bring to life.<BR><BR>I have to accept that
Gould's playing can on occasions be revelatory. But I do not think this is due
to psychological understanding, but rather to chance - the desire to do what is
unexpected.<BR><BR>I am not a Rachmaninov fan. The piano repertoire is vast, and
Rachmaninov to me seems a waste of time.<BR><BR>...among [Rachmaninov's] works
for piano, above all the piano concertos, there is nothing that I find
captivating, enough to recommend to a young pianist. Nor has the third piano
concerto ever convinced me."</EM><BR></I><BR>The book is in Q & A format
(the questioner is Martin Meyer, literary editor of the <EM>Neue Zurcher
Zeitung</EM>) and the sections are Life, About Music, On Performance, On Writing
(Brendel has published essays and poetry), and an Epilogue.<BR><BR> The
book in question is: </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><BR>
<H1 class=ecxbookTitle id=ecxbookTitle><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4>Me
of All People: Alfred Brendel in Conversation with Martin Meyer </FONT></H1>
<DIV class=ecxstacked id=ecxbookAuthors><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"
size=4><SPAN class="ecxby ecxsmallText">by</SPAN></FONT><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4> </FONT><SPAN><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"
size=4></FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4><A class=ecxauthorName
href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/390865.Alfred_Brendel"
target=_blank><SPAN>Alfred Brendel</SPAN></A></FONT><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4>, </FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4><A
class=ecxauthorName
href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/327188.Martin_Meyer"
target=_blank><SPAN>Martin Meyer</SPAN></A></FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"
size=4>, </FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4><A class=ecxauthorName
href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/447942.Richard_Stokes"
target=_blank><SPAN>Richard Stokes</SPAN></A></FONT><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4> </FONT><SPAN
class="ecxauthorName ecxgreyText ecxsmallText ecxrole"><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4>(Translator)</FONT><BR><BR><BR></SPAN></SPAN><A
class=ecxnewlyinsertedlink href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiX3Rof5E00"
target=_blank>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiX3Rof5E00</A><SPAN><SPAN
class="ecxauthorName ecxgreyText ecxsmallText ecxrole"><BR><BR><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt" size=3><BR><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"
size=4>Mary</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4><BR></FONT><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4><BR></FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"
size=4>PS There's an interesting 2 dvd documentary "<U>Alfred Brendel: In
Portrai</U>t" - visit your local University Library for further details...
</FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"
size=4><BR></FONT></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></DIV><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"
size=3><SPAN class=ecxreadable id=ecxreviewTextContainer281750337><SPAN
id=ecxfreeText4557652826002724675><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"
size=4><BR></FONT><BR></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"
size=3></FONT><BR>
<DIV>
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<HR id=ecxstopSpelling>
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2012 15:52:51 -0700<BR>From: boyboy_8@yahoo.com<BR>To:
f_minor@glenngould.org<BR>Subject: [f_minor] Beethoven<BR><BR>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #000; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff">
<DIV>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbhBnpMx8-M</DIV>
<DIV><BR><SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"><SPAN>On
the recent CBC radio Sunday program that Michael Enright did with Robert Harris,
Harris mentioned a CBC recording (many years ago) of GG playing Beethoven's
Tempest piano sonata (#17). I do believe that the one I've posted here is
part 1 of this sonata. As Harris explained, GG often ignored the
composer tempo and dynamic markings were in search of what "the music" was
asking for. This was a curious but I think accurate insight into GG's
mind. When I hear GG doing this Tempest, there are several things to look
for. Notice that he is conducting all the time, breathing with the music
as if it was a symphony. In his lectures, famous Beethoven
specialist Andras Schiff often explains that Beethoven was first and foremost a
symphonist and his sonatas reflect symphonic architecture reduced to two
hands. This is also correct and in GG's performance he is approaching the
sonata as if it was a symphony. Notice as well how he handles the motifs
that sound like a soloist singing a single musical line. Gould takes extra
time to allow the notes of the motif to rise up in melancholy, expressing such
depth of Beethoven emotion. The entire movement, for me, is extraordinary
and I cannot remember hearing it done with more pathos and introspection.
Incredible.....and totally unique interpretation. But again, Gould has
sought to make the music sound fresh and all the while respecting the meaning
that the music has within itself. <BR></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"><BR><SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"><SPAN>regards,</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"><BR><SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"><SPAN>Fred
Houpt</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman,new york,times,serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"><SPAN>Toronto<BR></SPAN></DIV></DIV><BR></DIV></DIV><P><font style="FONT-SIZE: 9px">_______________________________________________________________________</font></P>
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