Johann Sebastian Bach – The English Suites Nos. 1-6 – Glenn Gould (1977/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:51:37 minutes | 1,02 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download – Source: Q0buz | @ Sony Classical
In June 1976, shortly after completing this recording, Gould suffered the first symptoms of a severe illness that began with difficulties of coordination and gradually affected his entire organism. Although he charted the illness in a journal, he never spoke to anyone about it: “It is quite poss., even likely, however, that it had a psychological base.” It had no noticeable impact on his piano playing.
Glenn Gould could not have timed his professional entrance to the recording studio any better than with his première recording in 1955. Five years had passed since the lacquer disc medium had been retired and the industry had fully embraced tape recording.
The availability of digital tools for remastering and restoration has never been greater, or more refined. Yet everything starts with the original masters. Columbia Records kept very good archives of session logs, documenting which takes were recorded on which job reel, and to which musical work they belong. Gould often worked with the producer on choosing how the takes would be edited together, marking directly in the score where one take would end and the next would begin. The session reels were assembled into a “master edit reel.” If the master edit reel was mono or stereo, it would go directly to mastering, where the proper EQ (equalization) was applied for generating a “vinyl master.” If the master edit was three-track or higher, a master stereo mix would be made; this might be a generation before the vinyl master, should further vinyl EQ be necessary for LP manufacturing. Thankfully, the archives have preserved previous generations, so today we can ignore the numerous later copies and work with the original master edits.
In the remastering studio, we maintain original analogue Studer A80, A820 and A807 machines for playback of the Gould recordings. Most of these machines are modified by JRF Magnetics in order to ensure perfect reading from the playback head stack. The signal is converted to DSD via Mytek digital converters, all the while being monitored through Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus 802 series speakers (powered by Krell 600 watt amplification). This level of professional playback ensures that we hear exactly what was recorded at the studio without coloration and with greater clarity than even Glenn Gould had heard. The audio is treated in the computer using Cube-Tec restoration tools when needed, tools that allow us to remove such noises as electrical tics, pops, random studio noises, or even electrical buzzing.
Now, in 2015, we have accomplished a project that took more than three years: the analogue (and digital) remastering of Gould’s entire recorded legacy for Columbia. Remastering and restoration is not, however, a process of creating something new, but the art of bringing clarity and enhancement to the original masterpiece. Just as the restoration of the Sistine Chapel brought new life to Michelangelo’s paintings, so we’ve tried to bring new life to Glenn Gould’s recordings.
Tracklist:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Suite No. 1 in A major BWV 806
1. I. Prelude 02:44
2. II. Allemande 02:10
3. III. Courante I 01:48
4. IV. Courante II 02:11
5. V. Double I 02:06
6. VI. Double II 01:59
7. VII. Sarabande 04:07
8. VIII. Bourree I 01:16
9. IX. Bourree II (with da capo I) 02:14
10. X. Gigue 02:01
Suite No. 4 in F major BWV 809
11. I. Prelude 04:26
12. II. Allemande 02:46
13. III. Courante 00:54
14. IV. Sarabande 03:01
15. V. Menuett I 01:20
16. VI. Menuett II (with da capo I) 01:57
17. VII. Gigue 02:17
Suite No. 5 in E minor BWV 810
18. I. Prelude 04:44
19. II. Allemande 02:57
20. III. Courante 01:51
21. IV. Sarbande 01:59
22. V. Passepied I (en Rondeau) 01:06
23. VI. Passepied II (with da capo I) 01:36
24. VII. Gigue 02:06
Suite No. 2 in A minor BWV 807
25. I. Prelude 04:32
26. II. Allemande 01:33
27. III. Courante 01:11
28. IV. Sarabande – Les agrements de la meme Sarabande 03:03
29. V. Bourree I 01:26
30. VI. Bourree II (with da capo I) 02:00
31. VII. Gigue 02:17
Suite No. 3 in G minor BWV 808
32. I. Prelude 02:53
33. II. Allemande 01:44
34. III. Courante 01:20
35. IV. Sarabande – Les agre©ments de la meme Sarabande 03:19
36. V. Gavotte I 00:50
37. VI. Gavotte II ou la Musette (with da capo I) 01:09
38. VII. Gigue 01:53
Suite No. 6 in D minor BWV 811
39. I. Prelude 08:25
40. II. Allemande 03:11
41. III. Courante 02:46
42. IV. Sarabande 03:07
43. V. Double 02:15
44. VI. Gavotte I 01:34
45. VII. Gavotte II (with da capo I) 02:19
46. VIII. Gigue 02:58
Personnel:
Glenn Gould, piano
Download:
BachJ.S.TheEnglishSuitesNs.16GlennGuld197744.124.part1.rar
BachJ.S.TheEnglishSuitesNs.16GlennGuld197744.124.part2.rar