Contrapunctus 4 is what initially electrified the Russian audience. Gould was practically unknown in Russia at the time, as was the Art of Fugue. Bach was considered a "religious" composer by the USSR government, and his music considered undesirable. So almost the entire audience, filling only about 1/3 the hall, consisted of just curious musical students and instructors from the classical music department of Moscow University. Yet, when Gould reached the first intermission, people were racing to phones and nearby student residences, telling others to drop everything and RUN to the hall, proclaiming that a musical miracle was occuring. By the time the concert ended, the hall was standing room only. Many years later, some attendees would even claim that Gould seemed like a musician from another planet.
My favorite version of Contrapunctus 4 is Gould's. His polyphony is almost extraterrestrial.
It is not almost, but it is realy extraterrestrial
Contrapunctus 4 is what initially electrified the Russian audience. Gould was practically unknown in Russia at the time, as was the Art of Fugue. Bach was considered a "religious" composer by the USSR government, and his music considered undesirable. So almost the entire audience, filling only about 1/3 the hall, consisted of just curious musical students and instructors from the classical music department of Moscow University. Yet, when Gould reached the first intermission, people were racing to phones and nearby student residences, telling others to drop everything and RUN to the hall, proclaiming that a musical miracle was occuring. By the time the concert ended, the hall was standing room only. Many years later, some attendees would even claim that Gould seemed like a musician from another planet.
I do not know where you've heard that Bach was considered undesirable in the USSR. That is straight up not true.
Incredible clarity and Promethean crescendi
- no one has ever "played" it like that anymore...😇
Wonderful
Ah oui ! Quand même ⛲️💙
Sometimes I think, that Gould played some pieces of Bach better, than Bach did it. In this case Contrapunctus 4 is played the best by Glenn Gould.
Are you this Old?
@@Paul-xu6gt Yes
Which reincarnation are you on then?