ashthomas//blog

ashthomas//blog

Tuesday, March 30, 2004

"The purpose of art is not the release of a momentary ejection of adrenaline but is, rather, the gradual, lifelong construction of a state of wonder and serenity."
Glenn Gould was not only a genius pianist, but also a philosopher of the art. Michael Dirda reviews in the Washington Post a new biography of Gould, and reveals that the fascination with Gould goes beyond mere appreciation of his abilities. For some, Gould epitomises the half-mad solitary genius, dedicated to his art, oblivious to the world around him. Dirda describes Gould's Bach recordings as "the most pondered interpretations in the world, the keyboard meditations of a Zen master", and quotes Gould as saying, "One does not play the piano with one's fingers, one plays the piano with one's mind." And preferably with no one else around: "Isolation is the one sure way to human happiness."

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