Glenn Gould Memorial Service info
Noel Roberts
noelgroberts at gmail.com
Mon Sep 22 16:24:57 UTC 2025
Thanks Matthew,
I'll try to pursue that. I tried to order it from the National Archives
using :
*ISN 557676 / Glenn Gould memorial service, part 1, St Paul's [Anglican
Church, Toronto]*
And they found another recording which they added to my order. (ISN 438588
/ Glenn Gould memorial service
<https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=filvidandsou&IdNumber=438588&q_type_1=q&q_1=438588&ecopy=>
)
They said that I would receive a copyright release form from the CBC, but I
haven't seen that yet. It's been a month.
The options were to get it in MP3 or WAV format. I've requested WAV audio
format to maximize the quality.
Thanks,
Noel
On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 8:12 AM Matthew Harding <matt at ktlgroup.ca> wrote:
> Hello Noel,
>
> The recording is at least, publicly available from the UofT archives:
>
> music.utoronto.ca
> <http://library.music.utoronto.ca/media/Concerts/CD1982/TP1982--050_01.mp3>
> <http://library.music.utoronto.ca/media/Concerts/CD1982/TP1982--050_01.mp3>
> <http://library.music.utoronto.ca/media/Concerts/CD1982/TP1982--050_01.mp3>
>
> I also have a copy of the Order of Service which I will post later when I
> find it.
>
> Regards,
> Matthew
>
>
>
> --
> Matthew Harding
> President and CEO
>
> [image: KTL_logo_transparent_xsm.png]
>
>
>
> Tel: 613-841-2157 x202
> Fax: 613-841-2158
>
> On Sep 21, 2025, at 6:41 PM, Noel Roberts <noelgroberts at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> There seemed to be some confusion as to who organized Glenn Gould's
> Memorial Service on Oct 15, 1982.
>
> It was John P. L. Roberts, who was asked by Glenn's father Bert. Bert
> realized that there would be an expectation for the public to mourn, and as
> John remembers it, Bert said "I'm too old. I can't do it and I don't know
> all the people." So he asked John to lead it. John consulted with Bert and
> also kept him informed along the way.
>
> It was a mad rush to organize the memorial service in 2 weeks. The venue,
> the selection of the music, the artists, media handling, notifying various
> embassies, and so on.
>
> John recalls trying to track down Elmer Isler who was on tour with the
> Elmer Isler singers in the US, Maureen Forrester and others. He mentions
> they came rushing back, postponing their American tour.
>
> John originally reached out to St James Cathedral in Toronto as the venue
> of choice, but as calls from the press, and the level of media attention
> increased, he realized that the Cathedral was not going to be big enough.
> He reached out to St Paul's Anglican church as it was larger, and they were
> very gracious in accommodating the memorial service on such short notice,
> as they had to cancel or postpone an event that had been planned for that
> weekend.
>
> The CBC was going to broadcast it in Canada, and I believe that there was
> a broadcaster in the US who also broadcast it live there (likely at least
> in New York).
>
> Here are a few things that John recalls, that may be of interest:
>
> 1. John wanted to involve the congregation in the service, and since
> Glenn loved the old hymns, two were chosen. Bert loved the idea of
> involving everyone. Many hymns were suggested, and the two that were chosen
> were done so in consultation with at least organist John Tuttle and likely
> others. John asked Godfrey Ridout to make the musical arrangements,
> who probably did so working with John Tuttle. The hymns were:
> 1. “The Old Hundredth” chorale (from "Glenn Gould, A Life and
> Variations", Friedrich, p.4)
> 2. The chorale "Nun danket alle Gott" - Now Thank We All Our God
> (from Alexina Louie's post:
> https://www.glenngould.ca/2020/12/07/o-magnum-mysterium/)
> 2. John wanted representation from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and
> worked with Walter Homburger, who was able to assemble the quintet.
> 3. John also wanted it to end with Glenn playing, and so chose it end
> with the Aria da Capo (Track #32 of Glenn's second recording of the
> Goldberg Variations)
>
> Here's what I was able to assemble as to the music that was performed at
> the service:
>
> 1.
>
> The Music Programme included:
> 1.
>
> J.S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BMV 544 ;
> 2.
>
> J Brahms, Motet for Double Chorus, op.110, no. 1 Ich Aber Bin
> Elends ;
> 3.
>
> from the J.S. Bach Motet No.3, BMV 227, Jesu Meine Freude ; (Elmer
> Iseler Singers)
> 4.
>
> J.S. Bach, Allegro from Sonata in G minor for flute and continuo,
> BWV 1020 ; (Tuttle and Aitken)
> 5.
>
> J.S. Bach, Have Mercy Lord from St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244;
> (Forrester, accompanied by Staryk and Tuttle. This was a work that
> Forrester had performed with Gould)
> 6.
>
> Cavatina from Beethoven’s String Quartet in B flat Major, op. 130 ;
> (the Orford String Quartet)
> 7.
>
> J.S. Bach, Aria da Capo from Goldberg Variations. (Recording. Aria
> da Capo, Track #32 of second Gould recording of the Goldberg Variations)
>
>
> John also recalls reaching out to various embassies, which resulted in
> some countries being represented at the service.
>
> On a different and anecdotal note, John remembers being at the hospital
> with Bert and Vera (Bert's second wife) for the discussion with the doctor
> who informed them that there would be no recovery for Glenn. The suggestion
> was to take Glenn off of life support the next day, October 3rd, but as
> this fell on Vera's birthday, it was decided to take him off of life
> support on October 4th instead.
>
> Here are some of the sources that I used. Supposedly there's a recording
> of the memorial service, but the CBC has copyright. I would love for that
> to be available in the CBC online archive.
>
> https://discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/otufm51-tp-1982-050
>
>
> https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?idnumber=557676&app=FilVidAndSou&ecopy=
>
> Happy reading!
> Noel
>
>
>
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