How do you like your Bach played like this?

Tarantella · Post by **Tarantella** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 7:59 pm

Take a listen and comment on this new wunderkind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXrwKwf_ ... re=related

jbuck919 · Post by **jbuck919** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:19 pm

I think he's very Gould, I mean good.

Tarantella · Post by **Tarantella** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 9:54 pm

Great joke!! Yeah - what WAS with Gould? Autistic?

maestrob · Post by **maestrob** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:37 am

Tarantella wrote:Great joke!! Yeah - what WAS with Gould? Autistic?

Hi, Tarantella: welcome to CMG!

Please post often and frequently.

So you like Grimaud & Angela Hewitt, but not Gould?

Just checking.

For the record, no pun intended, I love Bach by Richter (as you do), but not Angela Hewitt (I haven't heard much of Grimaud in Bach). Have you tried Anne-Marie McDermott? Her Bach disc is outstanding, some of the best Bach playing I've ever heard.

As for Gould, he was very odd, but I've never heard him called autistic, perhaps out of respect. Of course that diagnosis was much more extreme when he was alive than it is today. Others may know more.....

PS: You may find disagreement and debate here, but trolls have been eliminated, thanks to our very fine moderator.

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 11:21 am

To understand Bach you have to appreciate the Genius of Glenn Gould, even if you don't actually enjoy his playing, the only other Composer he plays well is Haydn, Gould and Walter/Wendy Carlos let the Bach Revival in their own way, Gould is a very serious intellectual, also seriously eccentric from birth, calling him Autistic is (to be honest) an insult to his memory.

stenka razin · Post by **stenka razin** » Sat Jun 30, 2012 11:30 am

Chalkperson wrote:To understand Bach you have to appreciate the Genius of Glenn Gould, even if you don't actually enjoy his playing, the only other Composer he plays well is Haydn, Gould and Walter/Wendy Carlos let the Bach Revival in their own way, Gould is a very serious intellectual, also seriously eccentric from birth, calling him Autistic is (to be honest) an insult to his memory.

Chalkie, as you said, Bach and Gould make the ideal pairing. One titan playing another.

Regards,
Mel

Mark Harwood · Post by **Mark Harwood** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 8:41 am

Tarantella wrote:Great joke!! Yeah - what WAS with Gould? Autistic?

It's been suggested that he was on the autistic spectrum, although that's not helpful. ASD & Asperger Syndrome might cover it. That might mean little more than exaggerated strengths & weaknesses, an inflexible learning style, & some social awkwardness, but it often prevents successful independent living.
Incidentally, the term "Asperger Syndrome" is one that may soon become defunct. That suits me & my son Scott insofar as there will be less shouting at the TV when people mis-pronounce it.

Tarantella · Post by **Tarantella** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:08 am

So, no obsession issues there then? Phew - that's a relief!!

I taught a student in senior English who had Asperger's Syndrome. Her brother was in the same year and super smart - accelerated Extension level Maths student too. She tried to keep up with him and had no chance, so she drove me mad coming to the staffroom to find out why she only got 2/15 for her essays. She simply did not understand the complex issues: the essay question or the explanation of why she didn't answer it. But she was obsessed with success. I don't think this is anything like Glenn Gould's problem, which is probably autism spectrum disorder; i.e. they cannot relate to people and are obsessive. Having seen some of his talks on music he certainly struck me as a classic 'one track mind', with limited facial expression or social engagement. Poor man. This must have made his life hell, whereas my student was blissfully unaware and clung to the bible for her solace. (I gave her 2/15 each time, btw, because she attempted the questions.)

Holden Fourth · Post by **Holden Fourth** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:31 pm

Mein Gott - this guy is so like Gould including the way that he uses the piano. It was so uncanny I even checked birth and death dates of the two to see if there actually was a case for reincarnation.

I've had a lot of experience with Asperger's and I'm convinced that Gould was ASD.

Werner · Post by **Werner** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 6:43 pm

For the moment I'd be willing to dispense with comparisons with other performers, or discussions of whatever psychiatric syndromes, just to welcome an evidently fantastic new Bach player.

What more may we have to expect from him as the years go by?

Tarantella · Post by **Tarantella** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:51 pm

Werner, David Fray has a huge repertoire from baroque to modern. Check him out on Google, and I agree he's a huge new talent. Do you like that lightness of touch with Bach that he delivers?

Donald Isler · Post by **Donald Isler** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:43 pm

Well, yes he's young but, at 31, I think he's a bit old to be a Wunderkind.

So far I only had time to hear the first concerto. Hope to hear the others soon. Yes, he's very good, with a fine technique, and he shows sensitive musicianship and some beautiful ideas in the slow movement. But, is he better than Schiff? Probably not. Better than the great Edwin Fischer? Technically yes, but certainly not musically.

Watching this I'm also reminded of the man who went to a nudist colony and came home thinking how much better some people look with their clothes ON. I'm aware that Fray is conducting as well as playing, but having to watch every single grimace and exhaltation he's going through, not to mention every motion of his hands running through his hair isn't a pretty sight. If there were only audio I think I would appreciate this performance more, as I would be thinking instead of Bach's exhaltations (and other emotions and extraordinary ideas).

Tarantella · Post by **Tarantella** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:48 pm

I didn't realize he was 31 when I referred to him as a wunderkind. Yes, that's inappropriate. Also, it's not fair to compare him with Schiff at this stage - they're both such different musicians.

The rehearsal of this particular performance is also available on U-tube and you'll see some unhappy members of the Deutsch Kammer Philharmonie, Bremen!! I don't think they appreciated being conducted by such a young Frenchman!! Those old scores still aren't settled (pun intended)!!

jbuck919 · Post by **jbuck919** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 3:26 pm

Donald Isler wrote:Watching this I'm also reminded of the man who went to a nudist colony and came home thinking how much better some people look with their clothes ON. I'm aware that Fray is conducting as well as playing, but having to watch every single grimace and exhaltation he's going through, not to mention every motion of his hands running through his hair isn't a pretty sight. If there were only audio I think I would appreciate this performance more, as I would be thinking instead of Bach's exaltations (and other emotions and extraordinary ideas).

Frankly, he reminds me of that recent post of the guy conducting "Pass It Along" from Candide in Vienna; but only the orchestra could see his most of his (fun) antics.

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