Faulkner Variations

As I venture to finish off Faulkner's Intruder in the Dust tonight, I have some classical music playing in the background. Or so I intended. It is just so engaging, however, that it is distracting me completely from finishing this book.

It is a recording of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, perfomed by Murray Perahia. David Hurwitz has written a wonderful review of this recording:

I have no hesitation at all in acclaiming Murray Perahia's recording of the Goldberg Variations as the finest on piano since Glenn Gould's pioneering version of the 1950s. Both in its broad conception and individual details, it offers incontestable evidence of Perahia's penetrating musical intellect, sensitivity to emotional nuance, and exceptional technical gifts. A performance this rich and varied in expression deserves to be considered at much greater length than that of a simple record review, but perhaps a few general observations will suffice to indicate what an extraordinary listening experience this release represents.

Read the whole review, then get yourself a copy, put aside an hour one evening, and pay attention. This is not background music.