Glenn Gould Plays Beethoven

Tyler links to a new book about Glenn Gould, the pianist. I remembered renting, but never watching, a movie about Glenn Gould called Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould. Tyler's post reminded me of that fact, so I went to Wikipedia and found this interesting paragraph:

Gould was renowned for his peculiar body movements while playing, (circular swaying, conducting, or grasping at the air as if to reach for notes as he did in the taping of Beethoven's Tempest Sonata) and for his insistence on absolute control over every aspect of his playing environment. The temperature of the recording studio had to be exactly regulated. He invariably insisted that it be extremely warm. According to Friedrich, the air conditioning engineer had to work just as hard as the recording engineers. The piano had to be set at a certain height and would be raised on wooden blocks if necessary. A small rug would sometimes be required for his feet underneath the piano. He had to sit fourteen inches above the floor and would only play concerts while sitting on the old chair his father had made. He continued to use this chair even when the seat was completely worn through. His chair is so closely identified with him that it is shown in a place of honor in a glass case at the National Library of Canada.

I was then curious to see Beethoven's Tempest Sonata. I figured if it was taped, then it'd be on youtube. Yep. And it's wild to watch and listen. I think it's filmed in the 1960s - maybe early 60s, late 50s. One thing that is funny is to watch his face while he plays. He acts in a way that I'd expect a pianist today to act and behave - kind of passionate and weird - but which seems so alien to that particular era (to me).

All in about 1 minute's time this took place.