Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques
2004 - Now in our 15th Year - 2019
To see what's new on this site, you can visit the Home Page
Looking at this page on a smartphone?
For best viewing, hold your phone in Landscape mode (Horizontal)
Glenn Gould
Photo by the City of Toronto - Posted September, 2011
Photo and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted September, 2011
Attached to this westbound St. Clair Avenue West transit shelter at Deer Park Crescent is this City of Toronto plaque. Here's what it says:
Coordinates: 43.687223 -79.398474 |
 |
Marilyn Kecskes has been the superintendent of 110 St. Clair Ave. West since 1973. She first met Gould on the elevator when he was wearing gloves and covering his face with a handkerchief for fear of catching her germs. Kecskes said she had never met anyone like him: a maverick and eccentric. She knew he was special, too, because his mailbox was the only one that had been tampered with. Someone had once tried to force it open in hope of getting a bit of his mail.
When the elevator stopped, Kecskes opened the heavy doors next to what was once Gould's apartment and mounted the stairs to the roof. She pointed to what used to be his window. "I used to sit up here, after I had done my cleaning, and I would listen to him play all night long," confessed Kecskes, blushing at the memory. "He never knew I was up here, or else he would have been angry with me, I suppose, but I had the moon and the stars and his music and there was nothing more beautiful."
Related webpage
Glen Gould
Related Toronto plaques
Glenn Gould
Glenn Gould
Prodigy
More
Arts
Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
> Posted January 26, 2011
I grew up on the same street - 105 Southwood Drive and went to the same schools as Glenn. He was three years my senior. I delivered the newspaper to his parents and also to Robert Fulford's home which was next door to Glenn. We worked together as professionals as I was the bass in the vocal quartet that first recorded "So you want to write a fugue" and was premiered on the CBCTV Festival Series in 1962. 20 years later while I was AGM of the Hamilton Philharmonic, Glenn was using the ensemble as a practice orchestra, to hone his skills as a conductor. That's when he had the stroke that led to the passing of one of the world's most extraordinary human beings. I conducted a memorial service in Hamilton and hired three more singers and an accompanist and we performed "So you want to..." and a couple of Bach motets. I also gave the eulogy from my experiences both as an observer and associate. I am the sole surviving member of the original quartet. Many are my memories of Glenn Gould. Edgar Murdoch, Enderby, BC ([email protected])
> Posted March 8, 2010
He was the best, as a pianist and as a human being.
> Posted May 10, 2008
He makes me proud to have been born a Canadian.
Holt Chater
Here's where you can send me a comment for this page.
Note: Your email address will be posted at the end of your comment so others can respond to you unless you request otherwise.
Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).
Note: As soon as I have posted your comment, a reply to your email will be sent informing you.
To send me your comment, click [email protected].
Thanks
Webmaster
Note: If you wish to send me a personal email, click here.