tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post5097044427892261387..comments2024-03-28T17:44:11.289+00:00Comments on Bruce Charlton's Notions: Glenn Gould - art and life, and life as artBruce Charltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-65513771681132592682011-05-27T13:49:29.246+01:002011-05-27T13:49:29.246+01:00One reason to like religion is that it gets us awa...One reason to like religion is that it gets us away from focus on the individual.<br /><br />The "life as art" hypothesis seems to me another form of ego-drama, or focus on the individual and not the task.<br /><br />What made Gould great was his work, not the person himself, forgotten -- as far as his real essence as a person -- within a few decades of his death.<br /><br />Our cities are full of hipsters who are living life as "art." Austin, particularly, is loaded with people who think their conversations in coffee shops are art.<br /><br />It's the opposite of contemplation, reverence and inner joy -- outer drama and sensual pleasure.Brett Stevenshttp://www.amerika.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-27003355498394857042011-05-27T05:29:05.143+01:002011-05-27T05:29:05.143+01:00For how to live, after the rigours of child-raisin...For how to live, after the rigours of child-raising, I find myself drawn to the middlebrow splendour of Wodehouse's existence. Write in the morning; golf in the afternoon; eat and drink in the evening. Repeat.<br /><br />It helps never to be short of boodle and to have a personable wife who is decent company.<br /><br />Gilbert Pinfold.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-13322771680667046742011-05-26T16:16:02.978+01:002011-05-26T16:16:02.978+01:00Love Glenn Gould. I love your article. I can tell ...Love Glenn Gould. I love your article. I can tell it was written by a true fan of the man and the music. Thanks.Tony Durkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11072230579497040449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-96390731553718942011-05-25T12:50:25.749+01:002011-05-25T12:50:25.749+01:00@Alex - most geniuses are pretty difficult charact...@Alex - most geniuses are pretty difficult characters. <br /><br />But I would say that divas are different for another reason - which is that they are divas mainly because of the natural voal talents - and these can be possessed by people of widely different personalities and intelligence - so that sometimes divas are highly neurotic, selfish etc - and sometimes they have very limited formal musical ability. Sometimes they are the kind of people easily corrupted by fame, admiration and wealth. Many types. <br /><br />Of course this applies to male singers too, but they are not usually so much admired. But Pavarotti - although possessed of both a sublime voice and superb musicality - had virtually no formal musical ability, or at least only at a low level. As I recall he needed to be taught the operatic roles by ear, one-on-one. And it was worth it.Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-10401969237792753832011-05-25T07:43:49.833+01:002011-05-25T07:43:49.833+01:00Glenn Gould admired the musicianship of Sviatoslav...Glenn Gould admired the musicianship of Sviatoslav Richter - who also had an eccentric and sometimes unapproachable personality. <br /><br />Many of Richter's recordings are from live performances in ill-equipped concert halls, and so the audio quality is poor. He hated the clinical ambience of a studio. <br /><br />I don't have any of Gould's music on CD. I have a few recordings of Richter. The one I listen to most frequently is the music for cello and piano by Beethoven, which was made in 1963 and is very beautiful. <br /><br />There seems to be something in the popular theory that the creative talent and dedication required to become a great musician are associated with a curious or even bizarre type of personality. A number of examples could be offered. The capricious behaviour of the diva is legendary.Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-86658537137146920412011-05-24T22:18:02.637+01:002011-05-24T22:18:02.637+01:00Just offhand, I would say that Gould in some way e...Just offhand, I would say that Gould in some way experienced a meaninggul life through his vocation. The doctrine of vocation is a key Christian teaching. Really we have numerous vocations. For example, I am father, husband, son, neighbor, citizen, teacher, parishioner, friend, writer, property-owner and gardener, etc. Each of these has duties and blessings associated with it.Wurmbrandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17345523517796356674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-35775144622752834042011-05-24T22:14:33.952+01:002011-05-24T22:14:33.952+01:00Ah yes! - The Swingles. I have this on vinyl.
Go...Ah yes! - The Swingles. I have this on vinyl. <br /><br />Gould was also a fan, did you know?; and even more so of Walter/ Wendy Carlos's Bach.Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4683970826895755480.post-63839913221642076592011-05-24T21:56:33.740+01:002011-05-24T21:56:33.740+01:00This mob were my introduction to Bach. Even after...This mob were my introduction to Bach. Even after 50 years (God!) I think it stands up reasonably well.<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vonJhz2COckdeariemenoreply@blogger.com