Glenn Gould's piano

[Roger Jolly]

>His last CD of the Goldberg Variations was on a Yamaha. Aside from 
>that recording, his preferred instrument was Steinway. Apparently 
>shortly before the performance Glenn sent his piano to S&S for Franz 
>to rebuild the action to his specs. Franz was too busy with concert 
>work & someone else did the job, and totally screwed up the action 
>geometry. Gould couldn't deal with it, so he had to find other 
>options ...
>That's my best recollection from Mohr's tales told at the 2000 NEECSO 
>seminar at NH (probably in his latest book too).
>
Hi Patric,
              Sound's more like Steinway propaganda to me, the story we
hear in Canada, is that Yamaha was the piano of choice, for it's clarity
and rapid damping.
Given the analytical approach to the Goldberg recording, and listening to
the prior Steinway recording.   The Yamaha CF was better suited to the job.
Gould apparently checked out Steinway's entire artist stock for a piano,
and could not find a suitable instrument.
Stop and think, recording in New York, how many pianos to choose from, when
you are one of the world's great piano player's???????????????
I think Yamaha was chosen for it's qualities, and not a Steinway lame excuse.
Roger

Roger Jolly
Saskatoon, Canada.
306-665-0213
Fax 652-0505