Thank you both for this wonderful discussion. It would be really nice if Rick did some more programs about classical music. Rick's knowledge and love covers so many areas of music so his input here would be of great value. Classical music feels more dated than ever in the media and many people have no idea what it is anymore. I don't expect it to be as popular as popular music, but those who would probably have an affinity for it are sadly missing out on this opportunity now. Remember Leonard Bernstein's educationally oriented programs once for inspiration.
Hi Conny, I'll pass this along to Rick. He loves classical music and I think he finds the distinction between it and every other kind of good music to be artificial and unnecessary. If it excites you, moves, you, takes you to another world, it's great. And as he's said, anybody who's fallen in love with the film scores of John Williams or Thomas Newman is enjoying classical music - a rose by any other name! A young university under-grad friend of mine recently wrote an article for the University of Toronto newspaper urging her peers to "just give it a try" - and this led to some very in-depth email exchanges between us about why classical music has become so remote from the listening experience and awareness of generations. There are many factors: first, there's so much of it! An artist like Adele has produced 4 studio albums. Bach wrote 1080 major compositions (that have survived - how many haven't come down to us is anybody's guess). Where to begin? Also the history of Rock 'n' Roll is about 70 years long. The history of "classical" music is 1000 years, and spans many countries, cultures and even continents. There is also a much smaller financial incentive for the music industry to heavily promote "marginal" genres than major hits. The music business is a business, after all, and it devotes more of its resources where the returns are bigger and come faster than anywhere else. But don't lose heart. There are literally hundreds of millions of classical music fans around the world, and they're not going anywhere! In China alone, there are something like 60 million kids studying piano and it's all classical, all the time! So here's a challenge - pick out an exciting, gut-punching piece of classical music - Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture, Carmina Burana, The Rite of Spring, the finale from Dvorak's "New World" Symphony, Shostakovich's 5th Symphony. Or something just too beautiful to believe, like a Chopin prelude, the slow movement from Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony, or the aria from Bach's Goldbergs (played by Gould, of course), and get a young friend to sit and listen to it. Play it more than once if they find it takes some time to get used to. (Have some sweet treats handy to keep them from getting up and leaving), and then ask them what they felt . . . maybe they'll want to hear more. Everybody needs a friendly guide to start them on a new journey . . .
great talk, Rick is going down in history as a significant figure in music for his work. he's the best because he doesn't ask about gossip, or fashion, he asks about music theory, and inspiration, and he listens.
Rick's great. He sometimes gets criticised in the vein of 'old man shaking his fist at..' etc, but he's about 90% bang on about many things. Thank you for interviewing him 👍 I related in some part to the 'unreleased music' aspect you covered during the conversation. In effect, when i used to write & record music for licensing & placements, I'd usually do at least two versions of a piece in order to increase my chances. There were a few occasions where there'd be a dozen variations on the same theme (i.e., muted parts, diff bassline, drums, top line etc) , and as the years went on, i accrued lots of these ; the last time i checked my archives ,there's over 600 unused pieces. Unless i splodge them all out on a streaming platform, they won't see the metaphorical light of any ear canal, other than mine & those who got to hear bits of those pieces back when they were recorded. That's just how it was; getting the gigs/ jobs meant going the extra mile(s) each & every time.
Amazing memories and thanks for your kind words, SRDhain - it would be neat just to be able to compare all those different versions to see how much they vary from one to the next, and which have the greatest and least musical impact.
Rick was a real treat to "interview" - but really, it was more of a conversation, like you might have over a coffee to discuss life, art, and the values that really give our time on this earth real meaning.
I'm sure you'll find it a deeply moving and spiritually energizing experience. Tradition is more than something buried in the past there - it lives and you can feel it in the music, the architecture, the people!
@@ColdGrayMorning Well, one can connect with the great traditions in both Austria (Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert in Vienna) and Germany (Beethoven: Bonn: Liszt - Weimar;:Bach: Leipzig)
@@cheneyrobert I always keep a supply of fine art paper notebooks and a massive collection of fountain pens, with a rainbow assortment of ink colours - creativity unleashed!
Yeah, I know how you feel - but Brandenburg is nothing compared to "Schemlli's Songbook" - which includes some pieces by Bach. As a kid, I thought it was the "Smelly Songbook" - ah, the innocence of youth! 😇
Ahhh the lute - it dances, it sings, it sighs and it cries - one of the great "quiet" instruments that can also roar like a lion (at low decibel levels!): ua-cam.com/video/9evlSBlePMk/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/NdYxe-macaA/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/iTOuwe1i8uk/v-deo.html
True enough - some people can't tell their Habsburgs from their Hohenzollerns without a program!. And some of us think a Thurn in Taxis is a cab you hail when you want to get across town in Regensburg . . . 😜
great, exciting interview that I followed in one go from beginning to end!
The serendipity of Rick’s life is inspiring 😎🥂
Thank you both for this wonderful discussion. It would be really nice if Rick did some more programs about classical music. Rick's knowledge and love covers so many areas of music so his input here would be of great value. Classical music feels more dated than ever in the media and many people have no idea what it is anymore. I don't expect it to be as popular as popular music, but those who would probably have an affinity for it are sadly missing out on this opportunity now. Remember Leonard Bernstein's educationally oriented programs once for inspiration.
Hi Conny, I'll pass this along to Rick. He loves classical music and I think he finds the distinction between it and every other kind of good music to be artificial and unnecessary. If it excites you, moves, you, takes you to another world, it's great. And as he's said, anybody who's fallen in love with the film scores of John Williams or Thomas Newman is enjoying classical music - a rose by any other name! A young university under-grad friend of mine recently wrote an article for the University of Toronto newspaper urging her peers to "just give it a try" - and this led to some very in-depth email exchanges between us about why classical music has become so remote from the listening experience and awareness of generations. There are many factors: first, there's so much of it! An artist like Adele has produced 4 studio albums. Bach wrote 1080 major compositions (that have survived - how many haven't come down to us is anybody's guess). Where to begin? Also the history of Rock 'n' Roll is about 70 years long. The history of "classical" music is 1000 years, and spans many countries, cultures and even continents. There is also a much smaller financial incentive for the music industry to heavily promote "marginal" genres than major hits. The music business is a business, after all, and it devotes more of its resources where the returns are bigger and come faster than anywhere else. But don't lose heart. There are literally hundreds of millions of classical music fans around the world, and they're not going anywhere! In China alone, there are something like 60 million kids studying piano and it's all classical, all the time!
So here's a challenge - pick out an exciting, gut-punching piece of classical music - Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture, Carmina Burana, The Rite of Spring, the finale from Dvorak's "New World" Symphony, Shostakovich's 5th Symphony. Or something just too beautiful to believe, like a Chopin prelude, the slow movement from Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony, or the aria from Bach's Goldbergs (played by Gould, of course), and get a young friend to sit and listen to it. Play it more than once if they find it takes some time to get used to. (Have some sweet treats handy to keep them from getting up and leaving), and then ask them what they felt . . . maybe they'll want to hear more. Everybody needs a friendly guide to start them on a new journey . . .
great talk, Rick is going down in history as a significant figure in music for his work. he's the best because he doesn't ask about gossip, or fashion, he asks about music theory, and inspiration, and he listens.
Good to see Rick on the other side of the conversation!
Respect. That describes Rick. I will watch more interviews on this channel.
Peter, this means so much to us. The Gould Standard is a labour of love, and having viewers like you fuels our passion and inspiration!
Great great interview
Thank you so much!
👍 what a great guy
He's one of a kind! The complete package of music-powered joy and inspiration.
Rick's great. He sometimes gets criticised in the vein of 'old man shaking his fist at..' etc, but he's about 90% bang on about many things. Thank you for interviewing him 👍
I related in some part to the 'unreleased music' aspect you covered during the conversation. In effect, when i used to write & record music for licensing & placements, I'd usually do at least two versions of a piece in order to increase my chances. There were a few occasions where there'd be a dozen variations on the same theme (i.e., muted parts, diff bassline, drums, top line etc) , and as the years went on, i accrued lots of these ; the last time i checked my archives ,there's over 600 unused pieces.
Unless i splodge them all out on a streaming platform, they won't see the metaphorical light of any ear canal, other than mine & those who got to hear bits of those pieces back when they were recorded. That's just how it was; getting the gigs/ jobs meant going the extra mile(s) each & every time.
Amazing memories and thanks for your kind words, SRDhain - it would be neat just to be able to compare all those different versions to see how much they vary from one to the next, and which have the greatest and least musical impact.
Suscribed.
Bravo! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 thank you so much!
'Really enjoying hearing Rick in conversation, with the interviewer/guest roles reversed.
Rick was a real treat to "interview" - but really, it was more of a conversation, like you might have over a coffee to discuss life, art, and the values that really give our time on this earth real meaning.
Thank you.
You're welcome - please tell your friends about this episode of The Gould Standard and consider subscribing for other amazing conversations!
Thank you
I too am hoping to travel to Germany to continue my Classical studies
I'm sure you'll find it a deeply moving and spiritually energizing experience. Tradition is more than something buried in the past there - it lives and you can feel it in the music, the architecture, the people!
You mean Austria
@@ColdGrayMorning Well, one can connect with the great traditions in both Austria (Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert in Vienna) and Germany (Beethoven: Bonn: Liszt - Weimar;:Bach: Leipzig)
Music 🎶 on paper…..📝 the imagination set free 🥂
Paper is a magical medium. A blank page is like a new universe, waiting to be populated with ideas, inspirations, passion and . . . harmony!
@@BrianLevine-p5e terrifyingly beautiful blankness 🥂
@@cheneyrobert I always keep a supply of fine art paper notebooks and a massive collection of fountain pens, with a rainbow assortment of ink colours - creativity unleashed!
BTW "''What makes this song great" is misnamed. It's really "What makes this recording great."
Nice interview, ya'll. I am so used to the word 'Goldberg' that it seemed odd at first to listen to the word 'Brandenburg' instead!
Yeah, I know how you feel - but Brandenburg is nothing compared to "Schemlli's Songbook" - which includes some pieces by Bach. As a kid, I thought it was the "Smelly Songbook" - ah, the innocence of youth! 😇
Rick
Yes! Rick Rocks.
" Luting !! " 😂
Ahhh the lute - it dances, it sings, it sighs and it cries - one of the great "quiet" instruments that can also roar like a lion (at low decibel levels!): ua-cam.com/video/9evlSBlePMk/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/NdYxe-macaA/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/iTOuwe1i8uk/v-deo.html
Gould wears a clip-on bowtie. Unforgiveable.
How do you know for sure?
Rick - Austria is not Germany
True enough - some people can't tell their Habsburgs from their Hohenzollerns without a program!. And some of us think a Thurn in Taxis is a cab you hail when you want to get across town in Regensburg . . . 😜
Thank you