Italian classical guitarist Marco Salcito plays Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, on classical guitar, in the original tone. It is originally a work written for harpsichord and published in 1781, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. Salcito plays Aria, Canons (Canoni), and Aria da Capo in this home recording video (May 2015). It is a very clearly played, brilliant, virtuoso performance. I especially like the tune of the guitar which is made by the master guitar builder Enzo Guido (Chioggia, Italy).

Bach: Goldberg Variations BWV 988 on guitar- Aria, Canoni e Aria da Capo (Marco Salcito guitar)

J. S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations

The Goldberg Variations are named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg (before 14 March 1727 – 13 April 1756), the German virtuoso harpsichordist, organist, and composer of the late Baroque and early Classical period, who was probably the first performer of the work.

Form

After a statement of the aria, at the beginning of the piece, there are thirty variations, and again Aria da Capo, repeat of the aria at the beginning.

Guitar transcriptions: Marco Salcito himself. The parts played by Salcito are marked as bold with the starting times in the video:

  1. Aria 00:17
  2. Variatio 1. a 1 Clav.
  3. Variatio 2. a 1 Clav.
  4. Variatio 3. Canone all’Unisono. a 1 Clav. 02:52
  5. Variatio 4. a 1 Clav.
  6. Variatio 5. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
  7. Variatio 6. Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav. 04:25
  8. Variatio 7. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. al tempo di Giga
  9. Variatio 8. a 2 Clav.
  10. Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav. 05:33
  11. Variatio 10. Fughetta. a 1 Clav.
  12. Variatio 11. a 2 Clav.
  13. Variatio 12 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Quarta in moto contrario 06:50
  14. Variatio 13. a 2 Clav.
  15. Variatio 14. a 2 Clav.
  16. Variatio 15. Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav.: Andante 08:43
  17. Variatio 16. Ouverture. a 1 Clav.
  18. Variatio 17. a 2 Clav.
  19. Variatio 18. Canone alla Sesta. a 1 Clav. 11:22
  20. Variatio 19. a 1 Clav.
  21. Variatio 20. a 2 Clav.
  22. Variatio 21. Canone alla Settima 12:18
  23. Variatio 22. a 1 Clav. alla breve
  24. Variatio 23. a 2 Clav.
  25. Variatio 24. Canone all’Ottava. a 1 Clav. 14:10
  26. Variatio 25. a 2 Clav. adagio
  27. Variatio 26. a 2 Clav.
  28. Variatio 27. Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav. 16:15
  29. Variatio 28. a 2 Clav.
  30. Variatio 29. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
  31. Variatio 30. a 1 Clav. Quodlibet 17:40
  32. Aria da Capo 18:50

This is a very original project since we can only find guitar duos and the works for solo guitar are overdubbed in more tracks of the work. Salcito’s version is completely different to the existent ones. The full album (2 CDs) is published under the label of Dynamic, and you can buy it by clicking here.

“This is not the first time that Bach’s complete Goldberg Variations have been played on the guitar, but it may be the first time that they have been played on this instrument in the correct key, and without use of overdubbing or extensive transpositions. This has been a labor of love-three years of labor, to be precise – for Marco Salcito, who effected the transcription and played it here.” –Fanfare Magazine, Issue 38:3 (January/February 2015)

“…Salcito’s leisurely pace and his observance of all repeats save for the Aria da capo might make this nearly two-hour-long interpretation seem interminable over the course of a single hearing. Yet Salcito’s quiet, compelling mastery and eloquent musicianship, together with Dynamic’s intimate, full-bodied engineering, will win over guitar enthusiasts, and perhaps seduce a few Bach fans as well.” –Classics Today

Marco Salcito

Marco Salcito
Marco Salcito

Italian guitarist Marco Salcito graduated with a maximum of the votes and the praise at the Conservatory “D’Annunzio” of Pescara under the guidance of Maestro L. Guerra. As fellow attended courses three-year high processing at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana of Siena obtaining two diplomas of merit.

He graduated “guest” at the Musik Akademie der Stadt Basel in Konzert Klass of M° Oscar Ghiglia. The result was winner of the bonuses in important national and international competitions such as: the international competitions F. Sor in Rome (1st prize), M. Giuliani in Bari (2nd prize), R. Bartoli in Salon En Provence (2nd prize), International Competition of the School Civic in Milan (1st prize), G. Princes in Milan (1st prize), International Competition in Mottola (1st prize).

Marco Salcito was guest of prestigious concert seasons as the Festival New Consonance of Rome, the establishment Abruzzese Symphony, Meisterkonzert, Stuttgart, Basel Stadt Casino, “Amici della Musica” of Cosenza, etc. He has made concerts with various ensembles of chamber music as the quintet Italiamusica, the Quartetto chitarristico Italiano and the group Rosso Gitano collaborating with names of prominent panorama of Italian concert.

In duo with the violinist Luca Ciarla, Marco Salcito performed in June 2006 in Hong Kong Academy at the Center of Performing with the Hong Kong Chamber Orchestra in an interesting program entitled “Cinema my love” in which they are presented a series of pieces belonging to the most famous soundtracks of Italian cinema with great success. After this success, he was again asked in 2007 to perform at City Hall in Hong Kong as soloist and arranger of Romanze of F.P. Tosti with the city Orchestra obtaining broad support of public and critical.

Marco Salcito has recorded, in the first execution, compositions of authors for the contemporary Italian music House Bongiovanni of Bologna and RAI trade. In 2007 he published his first CD with his compositions published by Violipiano by the title “Rosso Gitano”, and in 2009 the CD by the title “Scaramouche” with M° Gianluca Sulli. He performed soundtracks of a film composed by L. Bakalov and E. Morricone for the Twentieth Century Fox and the RAI trade. In 2014 Dynamic label published a double CD of Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) by J.S. Bach for guitar solo.

National winner for the Conservatory from 1994 Marco Salcito is the holder of the chair of guitar at the Conservatory “U. Giordano” in Foggia. He gives regular seminars and courses of interpretation for his instrument to Vasto (CH) during the “Seminari Musicali Internazionali” and S. Giovanni Rotondo (FG) during the International Guitar Festival.

Sources

M. Özgür Nevres

Published by M. Özgür Nevres

I am Özgür Nevres, a software engineer, a former road racing cyclist, and also an amateur musician. I opened andantemoderato.com to share my favorite music. I also take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

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