Performer Michael Tsalka's interpretation of the 'Goldberg Variations' emphasizes improvisation, freedom, and unbound imagination, reflecting the spirit of Bach's music.
Instruments
The clavichords used in this recording were built by Sebastian Niebler; one is based on a 1796 instrument by Johann Christoph Georg Schiedmayer, and the other on late 18th-century South German and Swedish models.
Composer Biography
Bach's own copy of the 'Goldberg Variations', discovered by scholar Christoph Wolff, contained additional markings, such as 'al tempo di Giga' for Variation 7, indicating Bach continued to rethink his masterpiece.
Compositional Technique
The descending bass and chord progression that form the foundation of the 'Goldberg Variations' were a popular basis for improvisation, also used by composers like Handel, Purcell, and D'Anglebert.
Performer Biography
Michael Tsalka, the performer on this album, is a versatile musician who performs on a variety of keyboard instruments, including modern piano, harpsichord, fortepiano, clavichord, square piano, and chamber organ.
Recording & Production
This recording of Bach's 'Goldberg Variations' is the first to feature two clavichords played side by side.
Composition History
The aria that inspired Bach's 'Goldberg Variations' first appeared in the notebook of his second wife, Anna Magdalena Bach, alongside other pieces played in their home.
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