The Goldberg Variations can only be played on the harp in G, which is Bach's original key for the work.
Composition History
The original title of Bach's Goldberg Variations announced its beneficial effect for listeners, dedicated "to [Music] Lovers to Delight their States of Mind."
Recording & Production
This is Parker Ramsay's first solo harp recording and the second recording by an Organ Scholar on the King's College, Cambridge label.
Interpretation
Parker Ramsay chose the harp for this recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations because it combines the plucked quality of a harpsichord with the pressure sensitivity of a piano.
Performer Biography
Parker Ramsay, the harpist on this recording, was the first American to hold the post of Organ Scholar at King's College, Cambridge.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bach's orchestration of Phoebus's winning aria in his cantata BWV 201, "The Contest between Phoebus and Pan," indicates he envisioned Apollonian music as a rich blend of acoustic colors, not just a lyre.
Recording & Production
This recording was made in the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge, from September 10-13, 2019.
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