Costumes of Boy Musical Prodigies: Glen Gould (Canada, 1932-82)


Figure 1.--Canadian pianist Glen Gould is pictured here at 10 years of age in 1942 wearing a blue or black short pants suit. Notice the band on his kneesocks.

The brilliant Canadian piano prodigy was brilliant, controversial, and eccentric. He was undeniably a musical genius whose 1955 recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations won him world fame. His parents severely restricted his childhood performances, wanting his to "grow up normal." As a result, his childood performanes were in relaity very limited, only one or two each year. Childhood friend and noted Canadian writer, Robert Fulford wrote: Florence and Bert Gould were determined that their son should have "a normal childhood" -- as if anything in the life of a genius could ever be normal. In their household the phrase "child prodigy" was spoken as a dark curse, if at all." His childhood in reality was not a happy one. Other boys teased him for being a "sissy", but most other children tolerated his extrincices with wary suspicion. He had few close childhood friends. His mother apparently preferred short pants suits and kneesocks. Pictures of him at 10 years of age confirm he was still wearing short pants suit in 1942.

Parents

Glen's father wanted an outdoor buddy that he could hunt and fish with. Glen was abhorred with the idea of killing an animal. His mother encouraged his music, but was proabably the principal cause in the development of his neurosis and fears. His hypocondria was certainly inculcated by her as, in many ways, his basic outlook on life.

Childhood

Glen was an only child. His mother was very protective. She dearly wanted a child, but had several misacarriages before Glen arrived. His childhood in reality, however, was not a happy one. Other boys teased him for being a "sissy", but most other children tolerated his extrincices with wary suspicion. He had few close childhood friends. He had not interest in hanging out with the other fellows. Activities like sports which most boys enjoy did not appeal to him. He never played ball or had any interest in sports. He was plagued by lifelong drepression and was terified at performing before live audiences. He consumed massive amounts of prescription drugs.

Clothing

I have only limited information on his dress. His mother apparently preferred short pants suits and kneesocks. Pictures of him at 10 years of age confirm he was still wearing short pants suit in 1942. He had a dark blue or black suit. The pants were sometimes worn with a white jacket. A recital photograph shows him in his white jacket and dark short pants and kneesocks. Interestingly his dark kneesocks had a band at the cuff. British boys might have a colored or patterned band on their grey kneesocks. American boys wore similar styles with their knickers, althouh knickers were becoming increasingly less popular by the 1940s. It was very unusual, however, to have these paterned kneesocks with blue or black kneesocks. (Some wealthy or affluent American boys had colored bands with the black or dark blue kneesocks they wore with private school uniforms.) Glen's kneesocks, however, were not school socks as he went to a regular state school. I am not sure how long he continued to wear short pants suits. He did not, however, go to an exclusive private school. I don't know how common it was for Canadian boys to wear short pants suits in Canada, I do know it was much less common than in England. I also do not know how he was dressed for school or how the other boys dressed at the time.

Education

Almost from the beginning, his mother wanted him go be a muscian. He started playingvthe piano at about 3 years of age. After a while, Glen who did not like school, only attended part time so he could focus on his classical music studies. He attended the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto where his destinctive style was influenced by his piano teacher Alberto Guerrero. He would play the piano at home until 2:00 or 3:00 in the norning. One wonderschow his parents slept.


Figure 2.--Glen Gould also at age 10 wearing a white jacket with dark short pants and kneesocks for a recital.

Prodigy

His parents severely restricted his childhood performances, wanting his to "grow up normal." As a result, his childood performanes were in relaity very limited, only one or two each year. Childhood friend and noted Canadian writer, Robert Fulford wrote, "Florence and Bert Gould were determined that their son should have "a normal childhood" -- as if anything in the life of a genius could ever be normal. In their household the phrase "child prodigy" was spoken as a dark curse, if at all. So long as they could, they would protect their son from premature exposure to the world of professional music. Mozart's unhappy life was cited as a cautionary tale. Concert managers would not be allowed to exploit this young talent; Glenn would not be dragged before audiences as a curiosity, like so many poor boys and girls. Glenn's talent, and his health too, had to be protected even from Glenn himself. His parents decided that he must not be allowed to practise too much, and in consultation with his teacher a limit was set-no more than four hours a day. This rule required strict enforcement: if left alone, presumably, the boy would have ruined his health by sitting at the piano all day and all night."

Music Career

The brilliant Canadian piano prodigy was also controversial, and eccentric. He was undeniably a musical genius. He was known in Cabnada, but did not burst on the world scene until with a Colombia contract his recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations won him world fame (1955). It was not Columbia's idea, but Gould insisted. He soon was giving world tours, including a notable one in Moscow during the height of the Cold War. He did give some public performances, but did not like doing so. Strangely for a muscian he did not like audiences. He was nitorious forvcanceling performance and even whole tours. After only a few years he only made music in recording studios. He can be heard audiably humming in some of his recordings. He is noted for unconventional interpretations. Music experts still debate his interpretations. Some believed he often got it wrong. He is renouned for playing rigidly ordered baroque music in a way that other pianists Chopin or Liszt. While some critize him, he undeniably was able to move many classical music devotees. One muicolgist was particularly impressed with a 1981 interpretation of Bach's Goldberg Variations.

Adult Life

He was a hyprcondriac throughout his adult life. He had a terrible fear of germs. He did not like to be touched and avoided shaking hands. This wa a factor in his dislike of tours. He was known to wear winter overcoats during the summer.

Death

Gould died of a stroke at the relatively young age of 50. It is is an irony that an individual who went to such great lengths to protect his health died so early.

Sources

Bazzana, Kevin. Wondrous Strange: The Life and Art of Glenn Gould.








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Created: December 31, 1998
Last updated: 9:33 PM 12/27/2010