Bach was considered merely a competent craftsman by his contemporaries, and his music was often deemed old-fashioned.
Critical Reception
Bach's music only gained widespread appreciation in the early 19th century, largely due to articles in the 'Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung' and the advocacy of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.
Compositional Technique
The Goldberg Variations are based on the bass line and harmonic plan of a Sarabande from Bach's 1725 Klavierbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach, rather than its melody.
Composition History
The Goldberg Variations were allegedly commissioned by Count Hermann Karl von Keyserlingk, the Russian ambassador at the royal court in Dresden, to help him with his insomnia.
Interpretation
This string trio arrangement of the Goldberg Variations was created in 1984 by Russian violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky, inspired by his love for the work and an "obsession" with Glenn Gould's 1981 recording.
Performer Biography
Magdalena Kling-Fender (violin), Elżbieta Mrożek-Loska (viola), and Robert Fender (cello) are all accomplished Polish musicians, with Kling-Fender and Robert Fender also performing together in Trio Vivo since 1997.
Instruments
Although composed for a two-manual harpsichord, the Goldberg Variations are most frequently performed on the piano, despite the technical challenges.
You might also enjoy...
Bach: Goldberg Variations, transcribed for String Trio
Bach: Goldberg Variations, Bwv 988 (Arr. for String Trio)
