:51:06
This is Glenn Gould and this program is
called "The ldea of North."
:51:23
Let's talk about the radio documentaries
you made for the CBC.
:51:28
Two of your programs "The ldea
of North" and "The Latecomers"...
:51:32
are both about the idea of solitude...
:51:34
as it affects people living
in Northern Canada.
:51:37
ln fact all of those programs deal
to some degree with solitude.
:51:42
l've made five programs that have
taken 300 or 400 hours of studio time.
:51:47
Number one was as you mentioned
"The ldea of North."
:51:49
Two was " Latecomers."
Three was "Stokowski."
:51:52
Four is one we're just mixing now
on Casals--
:51:54
"Casals: A Portrait for Radio."
:51:56
l'm doing one next year on Schoenberg
and there's one that's lain around...
:52:01
for a year and a half.
:52:02
lt's a program about the Mennonites
called "Quiet in the Land"...
:52:05
and that's the ultimate
in community isolation.
:52:08
So next l want to do a comedy
about an isolated man...
:52:11
because l'm sick and tired
of all these profound statements.
:52:15
Well radio itself is
a solitary experience.
:52:17
Why does it interest you as a medium?
:52:20
l'd like to deal with this
as sensibly as l can.
:52:22
lt's a big question.
lt's an important question.
:52:25
l don't know
what the effective ratio would be...
:52:27
but l've always had
a sort of intuition...
:52:30
that for every hour you spend
with other human beings...
:52:34
you need X number of hours alone.
:52:37
Now what that X represents
l don't really know--
:52:40
whether it be two and seven-eighths
or seven and two-eighths--
:52:43
but it's a substantial ratio.
:52:46
Radio is something that's been
very close to me since l was a child...
:52:50
something l listen to
virtually nonstop.
:52:51
l mean it's wallpaper for me.
:52:54
l sleep with the radio on
in fact.
:52:57
Now l'm incapable of sleeping
without the radio on...
:52:59
ever since l gave up Nembutal.