1 of 1

Write now Article Tools

Perhaps the most influential musicians of out time, Glen Gould changed the way the world looked at classical music. Glen was a unique and revolutionary pianist, composer, conductor, musical philosopher, and recording engineer. Often a tough pill to swallow for many of the day's greats, Gould's eccentric and controversial ways change the way the world heard and learned about music.

The Early Years

Glen Gould entered the world on September 23, 1932 in Toronto, Canada. Born to a fur dealer and violinist father and a piano, organ, and voice teacher, he demonstrated greatness at an early age. His mother, Emma Grieg Gould, cousin to composer Edvard Grieg, noticed that at 3 years old Glen could already read sheet music and possessed the gift of perfect pitch. She began to teach him piano and encouraging his creativeness. He wrote and performed his first composition on June 5, 1938.

In 1940, Emma realized that her son needed more knowledge than what she could give. Gould began to study theory with Leo Smith at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Two years later, Fredrick Sylvester, conductor of Toronto's Mendelssohn's Choir, began to instruct Glen in organ. Glen then became an eager piano student to his mentor and friend Alberto Guerro in 1943.

Glen was a creature of habit. He found himself sensitive to the cold and constantly wore a warm tweed jacket and gloves, even in the hot weather of Sarasota, Florida. Once, Florida police arrested him for vagrancy.

Despite his anti-social qualities, he frequented "Fran's Restaurant." He ate the same meal of scrambled eggs at the same table almost every night between two and three. He continued with this habit even though he believed that someone was watching his every move and trying to poison him.

Glen despised concerts and the displays of appreciation of the public. He even went as far as calling it "evil" and wrote a paper entitled "GPAADAK" which stood for "Gould's Plan for the Abolition of Applause and Demonstrations of All Kinds."

In his spare time, Glen delighted in learning and forming opinions and theories on reincarnation and life after death. He also found the theory of numerology and contrapuntal poetry to be a great joy.

He spent a great deal of time examining and commenting on many of society's popular figures and ideologies. He regularly spoke against modern rock groups and musical styles such as jazz. According to Glen, the Beatles were a disgrace and modern music was ill fated. He felt that the Baroque method of counterpoint,

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Biography: Glenn Gould?
We want to hear your view. Write now!