Glenn Gould Memorial Service info

[Matthew Harding]

Thank you, Noel! Very considerate.

Regards,
Matthew


--
Matthew Harding
President and CEO





Tel:  613-841-2157 x202
Fax: 613-841-2158

> On Oct 1, 2025, at 3:03 AM, Noel Roberts <noelgroberts at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Mathew,
> 
> Another member of of the f_minor group sent me a copy of the Memorial Service Programme that they found, but which also had a copy of the Eulogy. I believe it came from the National Archives (LAC). I've included it in case you're interested in it.
> 
> Noel
> 
> On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 8:12 AM Matthew Harding <matt at ktlgroup.ca <mailto: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>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>
>> 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
>> 
>> <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 <mailto: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:
>>> 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:
>>> “The Old Hundredth” chorale (from "Glenn Gould, A Life and Variations", Friedrich, p.4)
>>> 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/)
>>> John wanted representation from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and worked with Walter Homburger, who was able to assemble the quintet.
>>> 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:
>>> The Music Programme included:
>>> J.S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BMV 544 ; 
>>> J Brahms, Motet for Double Chorus, op.110, no. 1 Ich Aber Bin Elends ;
>>> from the J.S. Bach Motet No.3, BMV 227, Jesu Meine Freude ; (Elmer Iseler Singers)
>>> J.S. Bach, Allegro from Sonata in G minor for flute and continuo, BWV 1020 ; (Tuttle and Aitken)
>>> 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)
>>> Cavatina from Beethoven’s String Quartet in B flat Major, op. 130 ; (the Orford String Quartet)
>>> 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
>> 
> <Gould Memorial Service Programme.pdf>

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