Track Listing

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2402 in Music
• Released on: 2002-09-03
• Number of discs: 3

Amazon.com
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

Customer Reviews

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
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.

A State of Wonder
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.