Abstract

Records

Considering the difficulties with which musicians in the U.S. are faced on most fronts, it is encouraging to see that young pianists are finally getting the attention they deserve. It is coming to them for some of the wrong reasons and their acceptance or rejection by the public and by management still hinges too much on the winning of contests. American pianists, Van Cliburn, Gary Graffman, MaIcolm Frager, and the young Canadian, Glenn Gould are first rate professionals to an ultimate degree, sensitive, aware and intelligent. Cliburn seems to be undergoing the musical maturation so many people feared he would not experience. Cliburn's, is the work of a solid, well-founded musician. Glenn Gould remains the most arresting figure among the younger pianists. If his personal, eccentricities sometimes carry over into his playing, he nevertheless generates more musical excitement than most of his colleagues.