Would Bach approve of synths?

For an ideal experience listen to this while reading:

One of my favorite recordings of all time is Glenn Gould playing the Goldberg variations from Bach (the 1981 version!!!). Each variation on its own is utterly delightful; however, when listened to in its entirety the Variations are a whip smart demonstration of the piano’s dexterity, nuance, and beauty. My favorite section is the Aria and first variation. The Aria nearly brings me to tears every time I listen. One of my favorite aspects of the recording is that you can hear Gould singing along to the piano, his chair creaking with the crescendos. The Aria melts into Variation 1, which is undoubtedly a headbanger.

Gould's annotated score

Gould always sat on particular high back wood chair when playing piano. He hunches over the keys, nose nearly touching them. It's a strange look. His father sawed the chairs legs shorter to compliment the height of a piano. There is an entire paper dedicated to an analysis of the squeaks of the chair.

//////////////////

I’m writing this on a train to Berlin while listening to the recording in question. It’s easy to imagine Bach in the passing pastoral landscape, composing for the trickling streams and cows in the field. It's easy to imagine Gould seated beside me in an old wood chair, humming along. 

I have this fantasy of getting a MicroKorg and playing some

of the variations on there. I’m curious if the tenderness of a variation like the Aria is transferable to an electronic instrument. Bach originally wrote the Goldberg variations for harpsichord, which Gould disregarded  Also, Variation 5 would be so fun to learn how to play and transpose onto a synth. I found a good eBay deal on a MicroKorg from Bulgaria... I'll keep you posted on my acquisition.

Here is an awesome version played on an modular synth: 

Someone has left a plea in the comments of that video:

'"Please don’t mix with good thing 

Or bad thing

That’s not God’s will

Please erase this one

Please God tell me so"'

Poetic.

Gould himself loved the Moog synthesizer and Wendy Carlos' Switched On Bach (an album recorded on a Moog synthesizer). I'm no music scholar, but I think Bach would have loved synthesizers as well. Why not?

P.S. If your classical music interest is piqued go give Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 - II. Adagio
a listen. The first time I heard this piece I was sitting on the couch with my Oma watching a live broadcast of the Munich Philharmonic. She hummed along the whole time, somehow knowing every note and it's intonation. It was supremely touching. It reminded me of Gould's humming. 

Here is a Berliner Philharmonic recording:

 

✰