Glenn Gould

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Biography

Glenn Herbert Gould (born Gold; September 25, 1932 – October 4, 1982) was a Canadian pianist and broadcaster. Regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, he was renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard works of Johann Sebastian Bach. His playing was distinguished by remarkable technical proficiency and a capacity to articulate the contrapuntal texture of Bach's music. Gould rejected most of the Romantic piano literature in favor of Bach and Beethoven, along with some late-Romantic and modernist composers. He was also a writer and broadcaster, producing television programs about classical music and contributing to music journals. Known for his eccentricities, Gould left a significant legacy in the music world.

Highlights

• Two recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations (1955, 1981)
• Grammy Award for Best Classical Album in 1982
• Multiple Juno Awards for Classical Album of the Year (1979, 1983, 1984)
• Inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1983
• Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1985

Discography

• Sonata no. 30 in E major, op. 109 / Sonata no. 31 in A‐flat major, op. 110 / Sonata no. 32 in C minor, op. 1111956
• Partita no. 5 in G major / Partita no. 6 in E minor1957
• Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major Op. 19 / Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D minor, BWV 10521957
• Haydn: Piano Sonata in E‐flat major, Hob. XVI: 49 / Mozart: Piano Sonata no. 10 in C major, K 330 / Fantasia and Fugue for Piano in C major, K 3941958
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto no. 1 in C major, op. 15 / Bach: Keyboard Concerto no. 5 in F minor1958
• Berg: Sonata for Piano, op. 1 / Schoenberg: Three Piano Pieces, op. 11 / Křenek: Sonata no. 3 for Piano, op. 92, no. 41959
• String Quartet, op. 11960
• Concerto in F major / Partita no. 1 in B-flat major / Partita no. 2 in C minor1960
• Piano Concerto no. 3 in C minor1960
• Piano Concerto no. 4 in G major1961
• 10 Intermezzi for Piano1961
• The Art of the Fugue1962
• The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Preludes and Fugues 1-81963
• Partita no. 3 in A minor / Partita no. 4 in D major / Toccata no. 7 in E minor1963
• The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, Preludes and Fugues 9-161964
• The Two and Three Part Inventions1964
• The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, Preludes and Fugues 17-241965
• Piano Sonatas, Opus 10 Complete1965
• The Music of Arnold Schoenberg, Vol. 4: The Complete Music for Solo Piano / Songs for Voice & Piano1966
• Emperor Concerto1966
• Sonatas: no. 8 in C minor “Pathétique” / no. 9 in E major / no. 10 in G major1967
• Three Keyboard Concertos1967
• The Well-Tempered Clavier Book II, Preludes and Fugues 1-81968
• The Mozart Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1 (The Early Sonatas, Nos. 1-5)1968
• Glenn Gould Plays Beethoven's 5th Symphony in C minor, op. 67 Transcribed for Piano by Franz Liszt1968
• Bach: Keyboard Concertos,Vol.II1969
• Scriabin: Sonata no. 3 / Prokofiev: Sonata no. 71969
• The Mozart Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2 (Sonatas Nos. 6, 7, 9)1969
• Beethoven Variations1970
• The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, Preludes and Fugues 9-161970
• Beethoven Sonatas: Moonlight / Appassionata / Pathétique1970
• The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, Preludes and Fugues 17-241971
• Suites for Harpsichord nos. 1‐41972
• Schoenberg: Songs for Voice and Piano1972
• The Mozart Piano Sonatas, Vol. 3 (Sonatas Nos. 8, 10, 12, 13)1972
• The Mozart Piano Sonatas, Vol. 41973
• The Piano Sonatas Complete, nos. 1, 2, and 31973
• The French Suites, Vol. 1, Nos. 1-41973
• Piano Sonatas, Op. 31 Complete1973
• The Three Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord1974

Awards

• 🏆Grammy Award du meilleur album classique (1982)
• 🏆Grammy Award de la meilleure performance instrumentale soliste (1982)
• 🏆Grammy du couronnement d'une carrière (2013)
• 🏆Grammy Award du meilleur livret d'album (1973)
• 🏆prix Juno pour l'album classique de l'année - Solo ou orchestre de chambre (1979)
• 🏆prix Juno pour l'album classique de l'année - Solo ou orchestre de chambre (1983)
• 🏆prix Juno pour l'album classique de l'année - Solo ou orchestre de chambre (1984)
• 🏆prix Molson (1969)
• 🏆Panthéon de la musique canadienne (1983)
• 🏆Grammy Hall of Fame Award (1985)
• 🏆Allée des célébrités canadiennes (1998)
• 🏆personnage historique national

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