The Goldberg Variations were supposedly commissioned by Count Keyserling, the former Russian ambassador to the electoral court of Saxony, to help him with sleepless nights.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The Goldberg Variations, composed in the last decade of Bach's life, reflect both his aesthetic transformation and his responsiveness to new musical trends.
Interpretation
Mahan Esfahani, the performer on this album, believes that the act of interpreting music is a way of speculating on the extra-musical messages or narratives within a score.
Recording & Production
The harpsichord technician, Simon Neal, created a custom temperament for this recording of the Goldberg Variations, rather than using a standard tuning.
Instruments
The harpsichord used for this recording was built in 2013 by Huw Saunders in London, modeled after a double-manual instrument from around 1710 by Johann Heinrich Harraß.
Composition History
Johann Nikolaus Forkel, Bach's first biographer, states that Bach received a golden goblet filled with 100 louis-d'or for composing the Goldberg Variations.
Compositional Technique
Bach initially considered writing variations an "ungrateful task" due to the repeatedly similar harmonic foundation, but he fulfilled the Count's wish with this work.
