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Glenn Gould: A Life in Pictures

Foreword by Yo-Yo Ma

Introduction by Tim Page

“Glenn Gould was blessed with a multitude of gifts, but longevity was not among them. And yet ... he has, in some profound and personal way, transcended time, for he remains a vital — indeed essential — musical presence all these years later, in some ways more central to our experience now than when he was alive.” — Tim Page, from the Introduction

Glenn Gould (1932-1982) burst onto the world stage with his inspired 1955 recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. His dynamic virtuosity and passionate artistry inspired millions, and he spent the next nine years as a star on the international concert circuit. In 1964, he announced that he was retiring from live performance, and devoted the rest of his life to recordings and documentaries.

Glenn Gould: A Life in Pictures is the first photographic treatment of the life of one of the greatest and most fascinating musicians of all time. This collection of more than 200 images includes a treasure trove of family pictures from the Glenn Gould Estate, most of which have never before been published, and rare photos from the CBC Archives, Sony Classical, and the National Archives of Canada.

A Life in Pictures celebrates the seventieth anniversary of Gould’s birth. The Foreword by Yo-Yo Ma and the Introduction by music critic Tim Page provide an insightful overview of Gould’s life and art. Extensive captions by the Estate’s literary advisor, Malcolm Lester, and quotes from Gould himself and other luminaries such as Leonard Bernstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Leopold Stokowski, and Leonard Rose appear throughout the book. The result is a lively portrait of a unique creative genius.

“Gould’s mind was a brilliant and shimmering prism through which sounds, senses and ideas were magically transfigured. As a teenager hearing his 1955 CBS recording of the Bach Goldberg Variations for the first time, I experienced a musical epiphany that would fuel my musical thinking for years to come. His recordings were a touchstone during those early years... ."

— Yo-Yo Ma, from the Foreword

  • Format
  • hardcover
  • Pages
  • 192
  • Language
  • english
  • ISBN
  • 9780385659031
  • Genres
  • music, photography, art, biography, musicians
  • Release date
  • 2002