David A. Windham

Glenn Gould

 

Aside from his passion and technical prowess, I’m not exactly sure what it is about Glen Gould that attracts me to his work. Perhaps it’s the fact that so many others believe his work exemplifies genius. I think this quote best exemplifies our shared belief on art.

“The justification of art is the internal combustion it ignites in the hearts of men and not its shallow, externalized, public manifestations. The purpose of art is not the release of a momentary ejection of adrenaline but is, rather, the gradual, lifelong construction of a state of wonder and serenity.”1

Regardless, I think I’ve listened to every single Glen Gould recording available. I’m currently listening to him perform Piano Sonatas 16-18, Op. 31 recorded in 1973. Aside from my brother, I know only one other fella who shares this sort of passion for Glen Gould. The artist Brian Rutenberg has been studying him for years and makes note of this on his website at http://www.brianrutenbergart.com/gg.html.

Here’s a video of him singing to animals

 


 

 


I read a good article on Glen Gould this morning. Glenn Gould’s Every Detail. But Why?2

 

 


1. Kingwell, Mark (2009). Extraordinary Canadians Glenn Gould. Toronto: Penguin Canada. ISBN 978-0-670-06850-0. OCLC 460273223.
2. Tommasini, A. (2016, June 1). Glenn Gould’s Every Detail. But Why? New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/05/arts/music/glenn-gould-goldberg-variations.html