The Gould Variations: The Best of Glenn Gould's Bach

Disc 1
1	Goldberg Variations, for
2	Two-Part Invention, for k
3	Two-Part Invention, for k
4	Two-Part Invention, for k
5	Partita for keyboard No.
6	Partita for keyboard No.
7	Partita for keyboard No.
8	Partita for keyboard No.
9	Partita for keyboard No.
10	Partita for keyboard No.
11	Partita for keyboard No.
12	Aria variata, for keyboar
13	Prelude and Fugue, for ke
14	Prelude and Fugue, for ke
15	Prelude and Fugue, for ke
16	Prelude and Fugue, for ke
17	Prelude for keyboard in C
18	Prelude for keyboard in F
19	Prelude for keyboard in D
20	Prelude for keyboard in D
21	Prelude for keyboard in F
22	Prelude for keyboard in G
23	Italian Concerto, for sol
24	French Suite, for keyboar
25	French Suite, for keyboar
26	French Suite, for keyboar
27	Prelude for keyboard in C
28	Chromatic Fantasia and Fu
29	Partita for keyboard No.
30	Overture in the French Ma
31	Concerto for solo keyboar
32	Concerto for solo keyboar
33	Concerto for solo keyboar
34	Goldberg Variations, for
35	Goldberg Variations, for
36	Goldberg Variations, for
Disc 2
1	Die Kunst der Fuge (The A
2	Die Kunst der Fuge (The A
3	Die Kunst der Fuge (The A
4	Die Kunst der Fuge (The A
5	Die Kunst der Fuge (The A
6	Die Kunst der Fuge (The A
7	Die Kunst der Fuge (The A
8	Die Kunst der Fuge (The A
9	Die Kunst der Fuge (The A
The Gould Variations: The Best of Glenn Gould's Bach
1.	Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Aria 1:55
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
2.	Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 1 in C major, BWV 772 (BC L42) 1:30
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
3.	Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 3 in D major, BWV 774 (BC L44) 0:59
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
4.	Two-Part Invention, for keyboard No. 8 in F major, BWV 779 (BC L49) 1:05
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
5.	Partita for keyboard No. 5 in G major, BWV 829 (BC L5) 9:52
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
6.	Aria variata, for keyboard in A minor ("In the Italian Style"), BWV 989 (BC L179) 9:41
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
7.	Prelude and Fugue, for keyboard No. 1 in C major (WTC I/1), BWV 846 (BC L80) 4:18
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
8.	Prelude and Fugue, for keyboard No. 5 in D major (WTC I/5), BWV 850 (BC L84) 2:48
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
9.	Prelude for keyboard in C major (WFN 25), BWV 924 (BC L57) 1:47
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
10.	Prelude for keyboard in F major (WFN 8), BWV 927 (BC L59) 0:36
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
11.	Prelude for keyboard in D minor (WFN 4), BWV 926 (BC L58) 0:48
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
12.	Prelude for keyboard in D major (WFN 27; disputed, perhaps by W.F. Bach), BWV 925 0:55
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
13.	Prelude for keyboard in F major (WFN 10), BWV 928 (BC L60) 1:07
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
14.	Prelude for keyboard in G minor (WFN 9), BWV 930 (BC L62) 3:22
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
15.	Italian Concerto, for solo keyboard in F major (Clavier-Übung II/1), BWV 971 (BC L7): First Movement 4:10
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
16.	French Suite, for keyboard No. 5 in G major, BWV 816 (BC L23): 1. Allemande 1:47
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
17.	French Suite, for keyboard No. 5 in G major, BWV 816 (BC L23): 4. Gavotte 0:40
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
18.	French Suite, for keyboard No. 5 in G major, BWV 816 (BC L23): 7. Gigue 2:28
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
19.	Prelude for keyboard in C major (Six Little Preludes No. 1), BWV 933 (BC L64) 1:19
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
20.	Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, for keyboard in D minor, BWV 903 (BC L34): Fantasy 6:17
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
21.	Partita for keyboard No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826 (BC L2): 1. Sinfonia 4:12
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
22.	Overture in the French Manner, partita for keyboard in B minor (Clavier-Übung II/2), BWV 831: 10. Gigue 2:12
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
23.	Concerto for solo keyboard No. 3 in D minor (after Alessandro Marcello), BWV 974 (BC L194) 9:48
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
24.	Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 5 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav. 0:37
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
25.	Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Variation 30 a 1 Clav. Quadlibet 1:30
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
26.	Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Aria da capo 3:45
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
27.	Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of the Fugue), for keyboard (or other instruments), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 1 2:45
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
28.	Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of the Fugue), for keyboard (or other instruments), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 2 2:43
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
29.	Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of the Fugue), for keyboard (or other instruments), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 3 2:20
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
30.	Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of the Fugue), for keyboard (or other instruments), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 4 3:21
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
31.	Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of the Fugue), for keyboard (or other instruments), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 5 2:53
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
32.	Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of the Fugue), for keyboard (or other instruments), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 6 (a 4, im Stile francese) 4:57
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
33.	Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of the Fugue), for keyboard (or other instruments), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 7 (a 4, per Augmentationem et Diminu 3:48
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
34.	Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of the Fugue), for keyboard (or other instruments), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 8 (a 3) 4:55
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould
35.	Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of the Fugue), for keyboard (or other instruments), BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 9 (a 4 alla Duodecima) 5:37
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Glenn Gould

Barnes & Noble

Whether you find his recordings of J. S. Bach brilliant, maddening, or a little bit of both, there's no denying that Glenn Gould was one of the composer's most significant interpreters at the keyboard, sweeping fusty and dubious tradition aside to imprint his own brash and fascinating personality upon the music. In a sense, the Bach we hear today is almost inevitably a post-Gould Bach, so enormous was his impact. As a condensation of his achievements in Bach -- also available complete in a box set -- The Gould Variations succeeds admirably in surveying recordings from throughout the pianist's career and encompassing the majority of the composer's keyboard forms. Fittingly, both of Gould's recordings of the Goldberg Variations -- the legendary 1955 debut and his more reflective 1981 remake -- are sampled here, at the opening and close of the collection. In between, we're treated to several complete works -- the Partita No. 5 (BWV 829), the Aria variata alla maniera italiana (BWV 989), the Chromatic Fantasy (BWV 903), and the Concerto in D minor after Marcello (BWV 974) -- plus an assortment of two-part inventions, preludes and fugues from The Well-Tempered Clavier, and excerpts from larger works. Throughout, the oft-cited qualities of Gould's playing -- spontaneity, wit, rhythmic alacrity, lucidly clarified textures, and a constant sense of fresh discovery -- are manifest. Although the accompanying booklet includes only a brief character sketch of the performer in place of any discussion of the music, the CD-ROM component of the second disc in this set more than makes up for it. As an audio element, this disc includes Gould's controversial 1962 performances at the organ of Contrapuncti I-IX from The Art of the Fugue. Along with background on Bach and Gould, the multimedia portion includes musical scores of the fugues which highlight each bar as it is played to facilitate following along, videos of Gould playing and discussing the music, and a complete discography of Gould's Bach recordings. Scott Paulin

All Music Guide

Who needs this disc? Not people who already have all of Gould's Bach recordings. They already love Gould's athletically racing, intellectually probing Bach, and there's nothing new on these discs for them. Nor is it for the people for already hate Gould's revved-up, super-charged Bach. They've already decided that Gould's a poseur and a fake. This disc is for people who haven't heard Gould play Bach yet and want to check the late, great Canadian pianist out.

What they'll get is the opening Aria from Gould's 1955 recording of the Goldberg Variations -- fast, light, and objective -- and the closing Aria from Gould's 1981 recording of the same work -- slow, dark, and deeply subjective -- sandwiching a handful of Bach's greatest hits for the keyboard. They'll get three fleet inventions, a couple of flashy Preludes and Fugues, a lean "Italian Concerto," and a really mean "Chromatic fantasia and fugue." They'll get a few Gouldian oddities like the quirky "Little Preludes" and the diabolic "Aria variata alla maniera italiana" in A minor. They'll also get a truly bizarre set of excerpts from "The Art of the Fugue" played by Gould on the organ (one cannot recall another major pianist who essayed this work or any other on the organ). Gould's registrations are strange and his rhythms peculiar, but his intellectual concentration never wavers. Finally, they'll get a CD-ROM which will allow them to see as well as hear Gould perform and discuss "The Art of the Fugue." Gould was as compelling a speaker as he was a player, and the CD-ROM is an amusing glimpse of the mind behind the fingers.

Recommended for those who want to try a little Gould and do not know where to start. James Leonard