In 1956, just as the age of Elvis Presley was dawning, classical music offered the world its own young superstar—one whose music would make a mark in a different but also enduring way.
Pianist Glenn Gould made his debut recording at age 23 with one of the most important classical recordings of the 20th century: his take on J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations. The record elevated both Gould and what had previously been regarded as a relatively minor piece of the Bach canon.
LIFE took readers inside the world of this budding star with a story headlined “Music World’s Young Wonder.” The story described Gould equally talented and peculiar:
Gould has…a set of the most earnest eccentricities in the music business. Almost everything gives young Glenn trouble. His health, always precarious, keeps him tossing down pills. His voice gets out of control as he plays and its crooning ruins some of his recordings.
The story made much of Gould’s mannerisms: “High-strung ball players stepping into the batter’s box have less ritual to run through than Gould requires before sitting down at the piano.” His pre-performance routine included removing the two sets of gloves that he wore to keep his fingers warm and then soaking his hands in warm water. Next he took what LIFE described as “circulation pills” before removing his shoes and setting himself down on a special chair.
LIFE photographer Gordon Parks joined Gould in the studio to capture the scene as Gould recording music by Beethoven and Bach. Parks’ photo of Gould bent over the piano in his signature posture as he records Bach while sound engineers hover overhead is one of the most popular in the LIFE print store.
Another of Parks’ photos captures the mannerism for which Gould was most famous—that previously-mentioned tendency to hum or vocalize when he was at the keyboard. Look at the photo which shows Gould leaning back and laughing. He is amused because the producers just played back a recording and he is realizing that he inadvertently ruined a take with his vocal noises.
All these decades later, Gould’s music continues to fascinate. In 2017 Columbia Masterworks released as a set the two separate records Gould had made of the Goldberg Variations—his debut record in 1956 and a fresh take on the music in 1981, a year before Gould died. Pitchfork gave the 2017 release a rare perfect 10 rating.
Preparing to make recordings of Bach and Beethoven at a Columbia recording studio, pianist Glenn Gould (right) discussed his approach to one of the pieces with a producer, 1956.
Gordon Parks/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Glenn Gould sampled pianos at a Steinway warehouse before choosing one for his recording session at a Columbia recording studio, 1956.
Gordon Parks/Life Picture Collection/Shuttertstock
Glenn Gould sang as he sampled pianos at a Steinway warehouse before choosing one for his session at Columbia Recording studios, 1956.
Gordon Parks/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Glenn Gould carried his special folding chair which he insisted upon using when he played the piano, 1956.
Gordon Parks/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Pianist Glenn Gould removed his outer gloves to reveal an underset of fingerless knitted ones which he wore even in the summer in order to keep his hands supple for performing, 1956.
Pianist Glenn Gould studied a Bach piano score while discussing with an engineer how he was going to record the sections in a Columbia recording studio, 1956.
Gordon Parks/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Glenn Gould, before a recording session, soaked his hands in lukewarm water to limber up his fingers, gradually raising temperature to hot before performing, 1956.
Gordon Parks/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Glenn Gould performed Bach in a recording studio while engineers and directors followed the score and looked on from glassed-in booth, 1956.
Gordon Parks/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
A shoeless Glenn Gould listened to playback of his Bach performance at a Columbia recording studio; he would decide that he needed to do this section over, 1956.
Gordon Parks/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Glenn Gould listened intensely to playback of his performance of Bach at a Columbia recording studio, 1956.
Gordon Parks/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Glenn Gould laughed as engineers let him hear how his singing spoiled his Bach recording. In response he offered to wear a gas mask to muffle the noises he made while performing, 1956.
Gordon Parks/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Pianist Glenn Gould at age 23, during a recording session in 1956.
Pianist Glenn Gould (right) ate a lunch consisting of graham crackers and milk cut to half strength with bottled sprig water while sitting at sound engineers table at Columbia recording studio, 1956.
