Home · Arts & Entertainment · Music · Glenn Gould: Variations on an Artist
Topic spans: 1957 - 2000
Glenn Gould: Variations on an Artist
He adored Arrowroot cookies, Barbra Streisand and animals. He abhorred sunlight, the stage and airplanes. Eccentric, genius, solitary, head-strong, hypochondriac, virtuoso… all describe Glenn Herbert Gould, one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. Gould was born on Sept. 25, 1932 in Toronto. His sudden death in 1982 at age 50 stunned the world, but his music and his legacy continue to inspire, delight and fascinate.
We would like to thank the Glenn Gould Foundation for its assistance in this archival project.
We would like to thank the Glenn Gould Foundation for its assistance in this archival project.
11 television clips
9 radio clips
Medical clues about what made Gould Gould
Broadcast Date: Feb. 1, 2000
The constant humming, the feverish conducting and fanatical fear of germs are eccentricities that define Glenn Gould as much as his Goldberg Variations. Years after the musician's death, Gould's unusual behavior continues to be a source of intrigue.Timothy Maloney, a musical historian studying Gould's manner and habit, concludes that he may have suffered from Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism.
According to Maloney, people with AS demonstrate exceptional skill or talent in a specific area. But because of their high degree of functionality and their naiveté, they are often viewed as eccentric or odd. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest.
This CBC news report shows reaction to Maloney's theory from Gould's friends, fans and critics.
Medical clues about what made Gould Gould
• Asperger Syndrome or Asperger's Disorder is a neurobiological disorder named for a Viennese physician, Hans Asperger.• Glenn Gould wrote obsessively about his own physical diagnosis such as the number of hours he slept, his blood pressure and what he ate. He was a hypochondriac who would pop pills at the onset of the slightest malady.
Medical clues about what made Gould Gould
Medium: Television
Program: The National
Broadcast Date: Feb. 1, 2000
Guest(s): Timothy Maloney, Helen Mesaros, Ray Roberts
Host: Peter Mansbridge
Reporter: Adrienne Arsenault
Duration: 2:45
Last updated:
March 11, 2008
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20 clips in this topic . page
Radio
3:48
April 25, 1962
In 1962, Gould's controversial performance with Leonard Bernstein at Carnegie Hall in New York causes sensation.
Television
10:14
July 3, 2001
On July 3, 2001, at the age of 70, prolific writer Mordecai Richler passes away from complications related to kidney cancer.
Medical clues about what made Gould Gould.
The CBC Digital Archives Website.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Last updated: March 11, 2008.
[Page consulted on Feb. 12, 2012.]