The Gould Variations: Technology, Philosophy and Criticism in Glenn Gould’s Musical Thought and Practice (Europäische Hochschulschriften / European ... / Publications Universitaires Européennes)

This book focuses on three aspects in Glenn Gould{u2019}s (1932-1982) musical thought and practice: Gould{u2019}s embrace of music technology, his notions of the ontology of music and musical interpretation, and the place of his thought in Canadian intellectual history. Focusing not only on Gould{u2019}s writings on music technology but also on those of Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980) and Jean Le Moyne (1913-1996), this book provides a fresh perspective on Gould{u2019}s thinking, which was embedded in and keenly alert to the intellectual world outside music. The book also touches on Gould{u2019}s public reception, his national iconicity, in Canadian literature and Hollywood movies. Gould{u2019}s stardom is discussed as a phenomenon more commonly associated with contemporary popular culture ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS 8 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 10 INTRODUCTION 12 The Legacy of Gould 20 Musicology on Gould 25 Historical and Local Hermeneutics 32 Research Material 38 Research on Gould 40 Structure of the Book 44 CHAPTER ONE 46 Musicology Without Musicians 46 History Viewed Through Ethnography 49 Music That Does Not Speak 56 Musicians Considered Musicologically 60 CHAPTER TWO 64 Who Owns the Music? 64 Gould’s Rejection of Tradition 65 Authenticity in Gould’s Interpretation of Music 68 The Priority of Structure in Music 74 The Ahistorical Aesthetics of Works of Music 81 Gould the Postmodern? 86 CHAPTER THREE 92 High Fidelity – To What? 92 Agency in Recordings 97 Gould’s Phonographic Ideal of Musical Interpretation 101 The Anonymity and Ahistoricity of Technology 105 Re-creative Listener 108 Benjamin’s Technological Democracy 111 The Aura of a Musical Work 113 Vattimo and “Homeless Artworks” 117 Gould and McLuhan 119 Gould’s Technological Ethics 124 Gould’s Ideas in the Present 128 CHAPTER FOUR 134 Musical Interpretation as Criticism: Philosophical Perspectives on Gould’s Music-Making 134 Four Adornian Windows 140 The Culture Industry 143 Music as a Private Art Form 156 The Challenge of the Modern 161 Schoenberg and Stravinsky 164 The Idea of Criticism 168 Gould’s Criticism at Work: Case Mozart 172 CHAPTER FIVE 176 The Ethics of Isolation – The Idea of North as a Hermeneutic Window on Gould’s Musical Thinking 176 Meanings of North in Canada 180 Gould’s Construction of the North 184 The North in Music 190 Arctic Resonances 195 The Shadow of Hanslick 199 Gould’s North as an Aesthetic Category 206 CHAPTER SIX 208 The Afterlife of Gould 208 “Glenn Gould” as a Representation 209 Who’s Playing the Goldbergs for Me – Gould or Hannibal? 211 “Gould’s” Story in Literature 223 Gould in Poetry 228 “Glenn Gould” as a Novel Character 233 Conclusions 241 EPILOGUE 246 Did He Get it Right 50 Years Ago? 246 BIBLIOGRAPHY 250 Introduction ; The Legacy Of Gould ; Musicology On Gould ; Historical And Local Hermeneutics ; Research Material ; Research On Gould ; Structure Of The Book -- Musicology Without Musicians ; History Viewed Through Ethnography ; Music That Does Not Speak ; Musicians Considered Musicologically -- Who Owns The Music? ; Gould's Rejection Of Tradition ; Authenticity In Gould's Interpretation Of Music ; The Priority Of Structure In Music ; The Ahistorical Aesthetics Of Works Of Music ; Gould The Postmodern? -- High Fidelity - To What? ; Agency In Recordings ; Gould's Phonographic Ideal Of Musical Interpretation ; The Anonymity And Ahistoricity Of Technology ; Re-creative Listener ; Benjamin's Technological Democracy ; The Aura Of A Musical Work ; Vattimo And Homeless Artworks ; Gould And Mcluhan ; Gould's Technological Ethics ; Gould's Ideas In The Present -- Musical Interpretation As Criticism : Philosophical ; Perspectives On Gould's Music-making ; Four Adornian Windows ; The Culture Industry ; Music As A Private Art Form ; The Challenge Of The Modern ; Schoenberg And Stravinsky ; The Idea Of Criticism ; Gould's Criticism At Work : Case Mozart -- The Ethics Of Isolation - The Idea Of North As A Hermeneutic ; Window On Gould's Musical Thinking ; Meanings Of North In Canada ; Gould's Construction Of The North ; The North In Music ; Arctic Resonances ; The Shadow Of Hanslick ; Gould's North As A Aesthetic Category -- The Afterlife Of Gould ; Glenn Gould As A Representation ; Who's Playing The Goldberg's For Me - Gould Or Hannibal? ; Gould's Story In Literature ; Gould In Poetry ; Glenn Gould As A Novel Character ; Conclusions -- Epilogue, Did He Get It Right 50 Years Ago? Juha Markus Mantere. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 249-277). "This book focuses on three aspects in Glenn Gould’s (1932-1982) musical thought and practice: Gould’s embrace of music technology, his notions of the ontology of music and musical interpretation, and the place of his thought in Canadian intellectual history. Focusing not only on Gould’s writings on music technology but also on those of Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980) and Jean Le Moyne (1913-1996), this book provides a fresh perspective on Gould’s thinking, which was embedded in and keenly alert to the intellectual world outside music. The book also touches on Gould’s public reception, his national iconicity, in Canadian literature and Hollywood movies. Gould’s stardom is discussed as a phenomenon more commonly associated with contemporary popular culture."--Page 4 de la couverture