Glenn Gould’s Variations and the Human Qualities that Foster Remarkable Human Creativity

Joshua Cohen is a professor of philosophy, and has taught at MIT, Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley, before joining the faculty of Apple University, established by Steve Jobs in 2008. Jobs’ goal was to infuse Apple’s employees with a more holistic and creative vision of the company’s mission and values.

As part of his three-part series, “Best Things,” Prof. Cohen developed this presentation about Glenn Gould and his re-imagining in 1981 of his groundbreaking 1955 hit recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Created for Apple, and rarely seen outside of Apple University, Dr. Cohen presents revelatory insights not only about a landmark recording, but about the richness of ideas that went into its creation.

Through this presentation, illustrated with numerous video clips and penetrating analysis, Prof. Cohen reveals Gould’s insights about the rich inner workings of a musical masterpiece, but also his ideas about the ethical dimensions of technology, and their implications for society and the future of humanity.

For those whose lives are touched daily by technology (all of us!), and for whom music is essential, this talk will be a provocative, stimulating and attitude-changing experience.