Listen to Gould’s 1955 recording of the Goldberg Variations. Then listen to his 1981 version of the same piece. You may find it more effective to listen via Spotify instead of YouTube as the individual sections are easier to access.

I chose to listen to the first variation in both the 1955 and 1981 recordings of the Goldberg Variations. In Gould’s 1955 rendition of the first variation the song has a real sense of urgency. Between the tight and up tempo melodic rhythms and the punchy yet non-intrusive bass it is clear that this performance was made to impress. Meanwhile on the 1981 rendition we get a much different take on the variation. Gould decides to take the variation at a slower and more moderate tempo. What once sounded like a percussive rush of notes flying at you now sounds like a gentle river washing over you. The punchy bass notes now replaced with longer deliberate tones that guide you through the piece not once trying to rush you along. An example of the clear difference between these two performances comes at the end of the piece. In the 1955 recording you are left on the edge of your seat as the rampant melodic runs never seem to stop. Gould doesn’t give you time to take a breath until finally the last note is struck and you are left gasping for air. Whereas in the 1981 performance the melodic runs are played with more leisure and with direction. In this version you aren’t caught off guard by the end of the piece and instead are ushered to the last note at a digestible pace. The two recordings are both masterworks in their own right but only when you look at them side by side can you see how quick and relentless the 1955 recording is or how gradual and settled the 1981 recording sounds.