The Gould Variations: The Best of Glenn Gould's Bach

Review
If you've never heard Glenn Gould's Bach, this well planned
compilation might just be your ticket to ride, as well as a great gift
idea. Disc one begins and ends with the Aria from the Goldberg
Variations (Gould's theme song, sort of). Among familiar Gouldian fare
are the Fifth Partita, selected inventions, plus the C major and D
major Preludes and Fugues from the Well-Tempered Clavier. Some less
obvious choices also prove compelling examples of Gould's x-ray Bach
style: the A minor Italian Variations, the Gigue from the B minor
French overture, and the Chromatic Fantasy minus its fugue (Gould
hated the fugue, and never recorded it!). Disc two contains Gould's
sole organ recording, devoted to the first nine movements of The Art
of Fugue. If you insert this disc in your computer CD-ROM drive, you
can access a nifty interactive program. It includes full scores, liner
notes, logs from the recording session, and marvelous video footage of
Gould playing selections from Bach's valedictory opus at the
piano. You'll be spellbound as Gould launches with soft, concentrated
deliberation into the final section of the great unfinished fugue
(where Bach's name is spelled out in musical notes). At the very
moment Bach's manuscript breaks off, Gould's hunched-over image
freezes in midair. I get goose bumps every time I see it. -- From ClassicsToday.com