<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Wonderful observations from lots of = folks on this list. However, I don't recall seeing anyone mention just how = extraordinarly precise and consistent Mr. Gould's technique would have to be in order = to even approach playing an instrument so "tightly" regulated, let alone using = it in performance or recording. This speaks volumes to me not only of Gould's = passion and persistence but of his sheer mastery of the mechanics of playing the = piano.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Just an observation, LOL.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robin Blankenship</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Matoaca, Virginia</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=a440@optonline.net href="mailto:a440@optonline.net">David = Denison</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=caut@ptg.org href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, February 25, = 2006 9:32 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] Glenn = Gould/Bach stuff</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>An excerpt from page 77 of Franz = Mohhr's <U>My Life with the Great Pianists reads:</U></FONT></DIV> <DIV><U><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></U> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <P>"...<EM>Like many of my clients, Gould was obsessive about the = maintenance of his piano. I did my best to satisfy his demands. Over the = years I earned his trust; he would not let anyone touch the piano but me. = Regulating his Steinway was a challenge. He liked a very shallow = touch—</EM></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"><EM>so shallow that it sometimes presented = problems during performances or recording sessions. As a piano is played, the = felt hammer head strikes the strings and then is steadied by the = back-check. In Gould's case there was so little "after touch" that the hammer would = sometimes dance between the strings and the back-check...</EM>."</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Arial size=2> This may shed some light on the = problem heard in the recording.  It's a terrific book and I came away = with  insights from a renowned technician of the inner sanctum of some of = the 20th century's greatest pianists.  Franz is actually a member of my = PTG chapter but I have never seen him at a meeting in the 25+ years I've = been a member.  I  did, however, hear him speak at a = local Steinway outlet in my area while touring the country with Horowitz's = piano. It was a wonderful!</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </P> <P><FONT face=Arial size=2>David Denison, RPT</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT face=Arial size=2>Long = Island Nassau Chapter</FONT></P></FONT></DIV> <P> <HR> <P></P>No virus found in this incoming message.<BR>Checked by AVG Free = Edition.<BR>Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.1.0/269 - Release = Date: 2/24/2006<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>