His harpsichordplaying is usually so beautifully expressive, with crisp brinkmanship. The goldberg variations, bwv 988, is a musical composition for harpsichord by johann. Johann gottlieb goldberg is a young servant in the employ of count keyserlingk. Complete works for harpsichord by martin galling now.
First published in 1741, the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form. Goldberg is johann gottlieb goldberg, a young musician in the court of count keyserlingk, a russian ambassador living in dresden. If you know bachs goldberg variations only through the eternally bestselling recordings by glenn. Bach goldberg variations best recordings on the piano. This is a great printed edition of bachs the goldberg variations for solo piano or harpsichord, well bound, with clear and bold ink, as well as a generous amount of contextual information and guidance to playing certain passages etc. Johann sebastian bach goldberg variationen bwv 988 pierre hantai, harpsichord 1. Admittedly though this is not as easy to get into as some of bachs concertos speaking as a relative newcomer as it is purely the one instrument but if you love chopin and piano music in general an essential purchase.
The goldberg variations were originally written for harpsichord. Goldberg variations is a work originally written for harpsichord by johann sebastian bach. The year 1741 was the time when book ii of the welltempered clavier was in. Bachs goldberg variations with audio cd by anna harwell. First published in 1741, the work is one of the most important examples of the variation form. Schirmer fail to explain is that the piano version is printed directly above the harpsichord version. It is named after johann gottlieb goldberg, who may have been the first performer. Goldberg variations harpsichord complete 30 variations. Gustav leonhardt harpsichord vanguard classics bach guild artemis. Goldberg variations for harpsichord work by bach britannica. The aria is a slow sarabande in 34 time, and features a heavily ornamented melody.
The goldberg variations, bwv 988, are an aria and 30 variations for harpsichord. Bach originally wrote his goldberg variations for harpsichord but the transition to piano does no disservice to these brilliant compositions and tbh im not really a big an of harpsichord. According to bachs first biography, the goldbergs were written for. When we arrive at the 1980s, we find the emergence of the socalled authentic. Now more than 30 years old, it has lost none of its vigour, delight and depth of insight. Bachs goldberg variations for harpsichord published 1741. In modern recordings, youll probably hear a 5050 split between piano recordings, and the more traditional harpsichord recordings. I have several versions of the goldberg variations at least 6 for harpsichord and the famous 2 sets made by glenn gould for piano.
Sure to make music history come to life, this book does a good job in the back of distinguishing between the parts that are 100% fact and where the author filled in the gaps. Can someone please list the goldberg variations and aria in order of difficulty. Bachs goldberg variations for harpsichord, bwv 988, have been arranged for a great variety of instruments and instrumental combinations, so a string orchestra wouldnt seem much of a stretch. The goldberg variations are a set of an aria and 30 variations for harpsichord composed by johann sebastian bach. When the count discovers goldberg one evening, he challenges goldberg to combine all the harpsichord music hes learnedand to throw in a riddle. Enjoy the virtuosity of bachs goldberg variations, now that his work is open and freely available for all of us. The keyboard virtuoso and composer johann gottlieb goldberg 17271756 had his name attached to the work in 1802, when johann nikolaus forkel published his. The goldberg variations harpsichord by david ponsford now. Just as miles davis kind of blue was one of those jazz albums you saw in the collections of people who otherwise didnt listen to jazz, glenn goulds 1955 lp of bachs goldberg variations stuck out in record collections otherwise devoid of. Download and print top quality goldberg variations complete sheet music for piano solo or harpsichord by johann sebastian bach with mp3 and midi files. Goldberg variations the bach performances of harpsichordist mahan esfahani are never boring and often fascinating. Johann sebastian bach created some of the most significant music in history, including a keyboard practice consisting of an aria with thirty variations for the harpsichordcommonly known as the goldberg variations. Johann sebastian bach created some of the most significant music in history. The goldberg variations is the last of a series of keyboard music bach published.
Around 1741, bach published a long and complicated keyboard piece, calling it aria with diverse variations for a harpsichord with two manuals keyboards. Bachs spectacular goldberg variations represent a high point in the repertory of keyboard music, particularly for the harpsichord. It is named after johann gottlieb goldberg, who may also have been the first performer of the work. Bach goldberg variations arranged for orchestra by elisa citterio concert run time. Hear how the pianist created his definitive, careermaking 1955 recording of bachs goldberg variations one misstep at a time. Landowska was recorded on a beast of an instrument by playel. The dialogue aria with diverse variations in the book godel, escher, bach uses the goldberg variations as its. Bach goldberg variationen bwv 988 pierre hantai harpsichord. Schirmer library of classics volume 1980 piano solo. So we have this initial aria, which well listen to in a moment, and then thirty variations of said aria. Picking five great recordings of the goldberg variations these days without mentioning gould is a little like leaving sgt. Haussmanns 1748 portrait of bach depicts him holding the manuscript to bwv 1076, one of the canons based on the first eight bass notes from the aria of the goldberg variations. Among the selling points richard egarr pitches on behalf of his bach goldberg variations recording are the use of a tuning system notated by the composer on the welltempered clavier book 1 title page, plus a harpsichord that, according to egarrs annotations, is voiced in a truly correct manner with the correct plucking material. Bachs goldberg variations released 1956 enjoyed an unusual popular success read more.
Russian violinist dmitry sitkovetsky, responsible for a variety of intriguing string. Goldberg variations order of difficulty piano world. Nordiska 120ca dongbei upright from about 2004, kawai mp11 digital piano, sennheiser hd 600 headphones. Bach goldberg variations best harpsichord versions. Aria with thirty variations for the harpsichordcommonly known as the goldberg variations. Goldberg variations bwv 988 played by pierre hantai. When the goldberg variations were published in 1741 as book iv of the clavierubung, it was simply as an aria with different variations for harpsichord with. This dover edition of bachs great keyboard opus, bwv 988, is an unabridged republication of 1853 edition of the clavierwerke, vol.
The goldberg variations glenn gould album wikipedia. Bach goldberg variations, bwv 988 download free sheet music. If the one shown at really is a new one, i will indeed probably pick one up sometime, as a hantai fan. Johann sebastian bach 16851750 goldberg variations, bwv 988 click to activate the english subtitles for the presentation 00. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This newly engraved edition of the goldberg variations, bwv 988 is based on.
The goldberg variations is the 1955 debut album of canadian classical pianist glenn gould. Bach goldberg variations for piano or harpsichord pdf. The goldberg variations, bwv 988, are a work written for harpsichord by johann sebastian bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. Hans bischoff 18521889 was a german concert pianist and wellregarded music editor, who continues to be respected for his thorough research, attention to detail, and careful consideration of source materials. This one by far is the least complicated and most joyfully starightforward. These variations were written for one of bachs most talented pupils, according to one account. Published in 1741, bachs incredible piece for harpsichord consists of 30 different variations on the same theme. Bach goldberg variations the best recordings part 2 harpsichord versions part 3 the piano playing bachs goldberg variations on the piano exhibits enormous challenges. Schirmer library of classics volume 1980 piano solo schirmers library of musical classics ralph kirkpatrick, johann sebastian bach on. Complete works for harpsichord by martin galling on. The goldberg variations, bwv 988, are a set of 30 variations for harpsichord.
First published in 1741 the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form. This classic account of the goldberg variations by trevor pinnock remains my favourite harpsichord version by a long way. The goldberg variations, bwv 988, is a musical composition for harpsichord by johann sebastian bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. Goldberg variations sheet music for piano or harpsichord.
Bach goldberg variations the best recordings part 2 harpsichord versions part 2 the harpsichord. He has a way of using his instrument, here a contemporary version of a 1710 thuringian harpsichord, to evoke a wide range of extramusical associations, and during. A talented musician, the boy secretly practices playing the harpsichord at night. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. This excellent disc has now been reissued at midprice. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile. This book takes a detailed look at how these variations originated, especially in relation to all bachs clavierubung volumes and late keyboard works, what their exceptionally intricate plan is, what kind of impact they have had, and how their. The variations are named after johann gottlieb goldberg, who may have been the first performer.
According to legend, this monument of keyboard literature was written for one of bachs students, who played it to soothe and entertain his insomniac master. Bachs spectacular goldberg variations represent a high point in the whole repertory of keyboard music, particularly for the harpsichord. Bach, the goldberg variations by peter williams, 2001. Bachs goldberg variations once upon a masterpiece 9781580895293. A picture book introduction to the history of bachs goldberg variations.
When the goldberg variations were published in 1741 as book iv of the clavier ubung, it was simply as an aria with different variations for harpsichord with. Gustav leonhardt bachs instrumental works discography. An interpretation of johann sebastian bachs goldberg variations bwv 988, the work launched goulds career as a renowned international pianist, and became one of the most wellknown piano recordings. Starting the theme with a stately aria, the goldbergs travel through 30 variations, exploring thematic possibilities while showcasing the composers brilliant sense of motivic possibilities.
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