J.S. Bach - Aria from the Goldberg Variations

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joolsscott
February 18, 2008

visit my webpage - http://www.joolsscott.co.uk Bach's wonderful Goldberg Aria, played on a sunny Sunday morning in the Pump Room. There are now theories circulating that Bach's wife may have help...

visit my webpage - http://www.joolsscott.co.uk
Bach's wonderful Goldberg Aria, played on a sunny Sunday morning in the Pump Room.

There are now theories circulating that Bach's wife may have helped him write the Goldberg Aria and that she may have been the sole composer for Bach's astoundingly beautiful solo cello suites.

The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, are a set of 30 variations for harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach. First published in 1741 as the fourth in a series Bach called Clavier-Übung, "keyboard practice", the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form. It is named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who may have been the first performer.

Johann Nikolaus Forkel:
"For this work we have to thank the instigation of the former Russian ambassador to the electoral court of Saxony, Count Kaiserling, who often stopped in Leipzig and brought there with him the aforementioned Goldberg, in order to have him given musical instruction by Bach. The Count was often ill and had sleepless nights. At such times, Goldberg, who lived in his house, had to spend the night in an antechamber, so as to play for him during his insomnia. ... Once the Count mentioned in Bach's presence that he would like to have some clavier pieces for Goldberg, which should be of such a smooth and somewhat lively character that he might be a little cheered up by them in his sleepless nights. Bach thought himself best able to fulfill this wish by means of Variations, the writing of which he had until then considered an ungrateful task on account of the repeatedly similar harmonic foundation. But since at this time all his works were already models of art, such also these variations became under his hand. Yet he produced only a single work of this kind. Thereafter the Count always called them his variations. He never tired of them, and for a long time sleepless nights meant: 'Dear Goldberg, do play me one of my variations.' Bach was perhaps never so rewarded for one of his works as for this. The Count presented him with a golden goblet filled with 100 louis-d'or. Nevertheless, even had the gift been a thousand times larger, their artistic value would not yet have been paid for."

The Goldberg Variations have been reworked freely by many performers, changing either the instrumentation, the notes, or both.

Joseph Gabriel Rheinberger, transcription for two pianos, op.3
Ferruccio Busoni prepared a massively altered transcription for piano. According to Michael Kimmelman, "Busoni shuffled the variations, skipping some, then added his own rather voluptuous coda to create a three-movement structure; each movement has a distinct, arcing shape, and the whole becomes a more tightly organized drama than the original."[11]
1984 - Dmitri Sitkovetsky, transcription for string trio
1987 - Jean Guillou, transcription for organ
1997 - József Eötvös (musician), transcription for guitar
2000 - Jacques Loussier, arrangement for jazz trio

Editions of the score

Ralph Kirkpatrick. New York/London: G. Schirmer, 1938. Contains an extensive preface by the editor and a facsimile of the original title page.
Hans Bischoff. New York: Edwin F. Kalmus, 1947 (editorial work dates from the nineteenth century). Includes interpretive markings by the editor not indicated as such.
Christoph Wolff. Vienna: Wiener Urtext Edition, 1996. An urtext edition, making use of the new findings (1975) resulting from the discovery of an original copy hand-corrected by the composer. Includes suggested fingerings and notes on interpretation by harpsichordist Huguette Dreyfus.
Reinhard Böß. München: edition text + kritik, 1996. Verschiedene Canones ... von J.S. Bach (BWV 1087).

http://www.joolsscott.blogspot.com

Jools Scott is a composer & pianist for hire, based in Bath (southwest UK). Jools is the perfect entertainment for an elegant wedding/party/event, with other 10 years experience as an entertainer. His piano music is exquisite, delivered with panache and passion.

Jools' compositions have been performed in a variety of venues, including The Royal Albert Hall, St Paul's Cathedral, The Purcell Room, Well's Cathedral School and The O2 (London) as part of the 2007 Technics DMC World Championships.

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alexeysful (3 months ago) Show Hide

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you did really well - excellent performance. One can see you really feel this aria all the way through. It is my favorite from Bach - sounds very different from his traditional style of music. To me Goldberg variations sound like western Tchaykovsy...very well executed! BRAVISIMO from Russia ()

Yoshi5020 (3 months ago) Show Hide

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...On the contrary, that piano is very lucky to have a chance to be played by you!

cl191 (6 months ago) Show Hide

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Love the little popups, it's like watching popup videos on vh1, very informative!

HanEllipsis (5 months ago) Show Hide

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Keep in mind that the story of the count who couldn't fall asleep was related by Bach's first biographer, J. Forkel, and is today widely dismissed as unlikely. It's still an amusing tale, though; it certain helps to give the Goldberg Variations character.

bongolow07 (7 months ago) Show Hide

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You must re-record this sometime, the background noise is somewhat distracting haha. 5 stars

jim0watkins (7 months ago) Show Hide

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I find the added ornamentation doesn't impact the delicate nature of the melody at all, very nice.

skybirdnomad (9 months ago) Show Hide

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I would not be surprised if this was written by a woman, it's so bloody gorgeous.

Yoshi5020 (3 months ago) Show Hide

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Bach was getting in touch with his inner-female, I guess!

Ivanhoe2 (9 months ago) Show Hide

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Thankyou, most enjoyable! My wife and I get to the Pump Room periodically and we ALWAYS make a point of applauding the artists. Everyone then catches on, as you know. As you, no doubt, realise folks get carried away with their chatting,,often meeting old friends etc. BUT I am sure the vast majority take great pleasure in your playing and appreciate it. VERY best wishes to you and BRAVO!!

joolsscott (7 months ago) Show Hide

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Thanks Ivan. See you there soon I hope!

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J.S. Bach - Aria from the Goldberg Variations

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