The Goldberg Variations, one of Bach's most celebrated works, was originally titled as being 'composed for connoisseurs, for the refreshment of their spirits'.
Performer Biography
Britten Sinfonia, the ensemble on this recording, operates without a principal conductor or director, choosing to collaborate with various international guest artists.
Compositional Technique
Bach incorporated nine strict canons into the Goldberg Variations, appearing at regular intervals, with one every three movements.
Interpretation
Dmitry Sitkovetsky, a violinist and conductor, created a transcription of the Goldberg Variations for strings in 1985, dedicating the string trio arrangement to Glenn Gould.
Compositional Technique
Bach's Goldberg Variations, in their original form for keyboard, are considered one of the most challenging and ambitious series of variations in Western classical music.
Composition History
The 'Goldberg' title for Bach's variations, ostensibly a commission for young harpsichordist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, appears to have been fabricated by Bach's biographer.
Compositional Technique
The Goldberg Variations are framed by an 'Aria' and use its ground bass as the source for the variation procedure, making the set more accurately a 'chaconne'.
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