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French Suites - 70th Anniversary Edition | 
 enlarge | Artists: Glenn Gould, Bach
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy New: $5.66
You Save: $6.32 (53%)
New (30) Used (12) from $4.50
Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 11424
Format: Limited Edition, Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 87764
UPC: 696998776425
EAN: 0696998776425
ASIN: B00006FI81
Release Date: September 3, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!
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Glenn Gould Plays the French Suites August 28, 2008
Robin Friedman (Washington, D.C. United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Bach composed the French Suites, BWV 812 --817, in his late-30s between 1722-1725 while living in Cothen (before his move to Leipzig). The first five of the six suites were written for Anna Magdalena, Bach's second wife. Opinions differ on the "French" character of the suites. They did not receive the name "French" Suites until the mid-1700s to distinguish them from the "English" Suites. The French Suites tend to be shorter than the English Suites and they lack opening preludes. They also are written in a style that is singing, even galant in places, rather than in a contrapuntal, fugal manner.
Of the six French Suites, the first three are in the minor key and the last three in a major key. Each of the six suites opens with an allemande followed by a courante and sarabande. And each suite concludes with a gigue. The remaining movements can differ. The sixth suite, for example, includes an early instance of a polonaise, a Polish dance that Chopin immortalized. The fifth and the sixth of the suites, with their lyricism and flow, are the finest of the collection but there is great and varied music throughout. The sarabande from the first suite, with its solemn chordal character, is frequently studied by those interested in music theory.
The Canadian pianist Glenn Gould (1932 -- 1982) became known for his interpretations of Bach and for his musical and personal eccentricities. His recording of the French Suites date from 1971-1972. I listened to Gould's recording with score in hand, making it quite obvious that this pianist had his own way with Bach. Gould plays with great technique and independence, no pedal, clean articulation, with a tendency towards stacatto, and at highly quick tempos. He also is free with the score, taking many liberties of interpretation in tempo, ornamentation, keyboard register, dynamics, among other things. His is not a purist's rendition of Bach.
The suites, nevertheless, are effective under Gould's hands. I am in the process of learning to play the French Suites, and Gould's performance taught me a great deal something about this music. Gould's is not a style to be emulated, especially by an amateur pianist, but his love and insight for the music come through. I am uncomfortable with the cult figure Gould has become as some listeners tend to focus more on the performer and his great musical gifts and eccentricities rather than on the composer and the score. In thinking about this recording, I read an Amazon review of a recording of the French Suites as performed by a contemporary Canadian pianist, Angela Hewitt. The reviewer noted that with Gould, the listener hears Gould's genius while with Hewitt the listener may focus on Bach's genius. This is a succinct way of putting the matter. Yet Gould has brought an appreciation of music and of Bach to many people that might not otherwise have discovered them.
In sum, Gould offers an excellent if idiosyncratic rendition of the French Suites. His reading should be heard with an appreciation of the joy of Bach and of creative music-making rather than exclusively as part of a personality cult of a great but troubled pianist.
Robin Friedman
 Techniq is not enough October 1, 2007
Ekrem Ayyildiz (istanbul,turkey)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Undoubtly Glenn Gould (1932-1982,Canada) was one of the very interesting and important pianists of the 20'th century and also a Bach specialist. His 1955 and 1981 Goldberg Variations recordings are a legend and still a reference. I also like his The Art of Fugue recording(not complete;each selected part was played by both piano and organ). Today, Gould's interpretations is very controversial but sometimes his harpsichord-style-playing gives us delightful moments: Superb techniq, transparent reading, rythmic approaching.
I'm disappointed with his French suites. Ofcourse this is a classic Gould-sound, Gould-approaching; there is no problem. On the other hand, Bach was one of the greatest spiritualist composers and his music also wants deep spiritual understanding. For this reason, Gould's French Suites are very dry, fast, and lost. For Gould lovers.
I prefer and recommend: Sviatoslav RICHTER(piano,Nos.2&4,incomplete,live, digital,on Stradivarius label; or on Decca,Nos.2,4&6,also digital) and Gustav LEONHARDT(harpsichord, studio,stereo-1970's,complete on 1 CD,on Sony). Both are great.
Goulden Boy August 14, 2007
Trotwood Traddles
There is no doubt - Bach and Gould make a utopian combination. I have just recently bought this disc and am loving it. Although some may argue about Gould's controversial take on tempo and interpretation, I think he has the right, after his years of devotion to this composer, to be a little elastic. Three cheers for early Gould!
So many insights July 11, 2007
R. G. W. Brown (Tustin, CA, USA)
Of all the many French Suite recordings I've heard, in spite of its eccentricities, this is the recording I return to, because every time I hear it, I hear something new and fresh. It has everything - and no other recorded-performer comes anywhere near such understanding, enthusiasm and dancing-qualities.
realy, really fast February 9, 2007
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Glenn Gould bach is really irregular. I love the three goldbergs (1954, 1981, an live recording in Salzburg), but these French suites are really, very fast, in the first minutes the music sound lively, and pretty, but almost an hour of staccato fast music, It's really like a ta ta ta ta ta ta ta sound.
I much more prefer gould playing bach's fugues, he use to be more slow
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