Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988

Featuring

Oliver Schnyder
Johann Sebastian Bach

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Composition History

Doubts exist about the veracity of the Goldberg Variations' origin story, as the first edition from 1741 lacks a dedication to Count Keyserlingk, and the harpsichordist Goldberg was only twelve at the time.

Compositional Technique

The Goldberg Variations are structured into ten groups of three, with the third variation in each group always being a canon, progressing from unison to a ninth interval.

Compositional Technique

The final variation of the Goldberg Variations is not a canon, but a Quodlibet that combines two popular Saxon folk songs, 'Kraut und Rüben haben mich vertrieben' and 'Ich bin so lang nicht bei dir gewest'.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded at Radiostudio Zürich, described as one of Europe's best studios, which has since been converted into a school.

Compositional Technique

Bach's Goldberg Variations reveal his numerological mysticism, with the Aria comprising 32 measures and the bass theme consisting of 32 notes.

Composition History

The anecdote about the Goldberg Variations being commissioned to entertain Count Keyserlingk is famous, despite the work's complexity making it unsuitable as a soporific.

Composition History

The Goldberg Variations were first mentioned in Johann Nikolaus Forkel's 1802 biography of Bach, where an anecdote claims they were commissioned by Count Keyserlingk to entertain him during sleepless nights.