Dave Pitzer wrote:

>I generally find the "extra-musical" sounds of Glen Gould et. al.
>distracting.  He maintained that he couldn't help making these noises and
>I tend to believe him.  Too bad since, in my opinion, they make already
>idiosyncratic readings even more so.

"Idiosyncratic" is hardly the word I'd use to describe Gould's Bach
performances.  I prefer "unusual" or "distinctive".

John Polifronio wrote:

>If Gould couldn't help himself, as you suspect, neither can we, in
>finding his vocal noises an intrusion on a work that requires a respectful
>silence as much from the musician performing the work as it does from
>audience members listening to it.

Don't include me in the "we".  I'm finding this "respect/disrespect"
business alien as hell.  You don't like a certain performer's
interpretations or mannerisms/noises? Fine - stop listening to that
performer.  I don't see what "respect" has to do with it.  Just move on
to the next performer.  In my review of recordings of Bach's Inventions,
I think I would be doing a disservice to readers if I assigned negative
"points" to Gould for his humming and so-called disrespect for the
composer.  Why? It's irrelevant to the degree of quality of his
performances.

Don Satz
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