One of the most famous and celebrated pianists of the 20th century, Canadian classical pianist Glenn Gould performs Johan Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, a musical composition for the keyboard. A 1981 recording.
Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations, BWV 988
The Goldberg Variations were published in Bach’s own lifetime (unusually for the composer’s works), in 1741. The publisher was Bach’s friend Balthasar Schmid of Nuremberg.
Bach specified that the work was intended for harpsichord. t is widely performed on this instrument today, though there are also a great number of performances on the piano, like Gould’s performances.
Gould’s 1956 album The Goldberg Variations is the debut album of the Canadian classical pianist. An interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations, it launched Gould’s career as a renowned international pianist and became one of the most well-known piano recordings.
Structure
- Aria
- Variatio 1. a 1 Clav.
- Variatio 2. a 1 Clav.
- Variatio 3. Canone all’Unisono. a 1 Clav.
- Variatio 4. a 1 Clav.
- Variatio 5. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
- Variatio 6. Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav.
- Variatio 7. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. al tempo di Giga
- Variatio 8. a 2 Clav.
- Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav.
- Variatio 10. Fughetta. a 1 Clav.
- Variatio 11. a 2 Clav.
- Variatio 12. a 1 Clav. Canone alla Quarta in moto contrario
- Variatio 13. a 2 Clav.
- Variatio 14. a 2 Clav.
- Variatio 15. Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav.: Andante
- Variatio 16. Ouverture. a 1 Clav.
- Variatio 17. a 2 Clav.
- Variatio 18. Canone alla Sesta. a 1 Clav.
- Variatio 19. a 1 Clav.
- Variatio 20. a 2 Clav.
- Variatio 21. Canone alla Settima
- Variatio 22. a 1 Clav. alla breve
- Variatio 23. a 2 Clav.
- Variatio 24. Canone all’Ottava. a 1 Clav.
- Variatio 25. a 2 Clav.: Adagio
- Variatio 26. a 2 Clav.
- Variatio 27. Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav.
- Variatio 28. a 2 Clav.
- Variatio 29. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
- Variatio 30. a 1 Clav. Quodlibet
- Aria da Capo
Sources
- Goldberg Variations on Wikipedia
