Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988

Featuring

Marie Rosa Günter
Johann Sebastian Bach

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Compositional Technique

The final variation, a Quodlibet, combines parts of two popular folk songs from Bach's time: 'Ich bin so lang nicht bei dir g'west' and 'Kraut und Rüben haben mich vertrieben'.

Critical Reception

The Goldberg Variations have been recorded at least a thousand times since the 1930s, with Wanda Landowska making the first recording in 1933.

Cultural Impact

The Goldberg Variations have inspired writers, filmmakers, theater artists, mathematicians, numerologists, psychoanalysts, and esotericists.

Interpretation

Since Bach left no tempo indications, the playing time of the Goldberg Variations can range significantly, from 39 minutes (Glenn Gould, 1955) to nearly 90 minutes, also depending on the number of repetitions played.

Compositional Technique

Bach integrated musical forms and genres from 200 years of musical history into the Goldberg Variations, including eight canons, a polonaise, gigue, minuet, sarabande, trio sonata, and toccata.

Composition History

The Goldberg Variations were reportedly commissioned by Count Hermann Carl von Keyserlingk, the Russian envoy to the Dresden court, to help him with his insomnia.