J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill)
10/18/2024, 32 Tracks, 1:13:24
Featuring
Robin O'Neill
Philharmonia Orchestra
Johann Sebastian Bach
Did you know?
1/7
Compositional Technique
The variations are grouped into ten sets of three, with the third of each set being a canon, progressively rising by one degree from a unison to a ninth.
Performer Biography
Robin O'Neill, the arranger and conductor on this album, is a Grammy-nominated recording artist and an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Glenn Gould, a renowned pianist known for his recordings of the Goldberg Variations, believed Bach cared fanatically about the integrity of his structures, not specific sonority or volume.
Interpretation
Robin O'Neill's arrangement of the Goldberg Variations uses a string orchestra complemented by solo flute, oboe, cor anglais, and two bassoons, instruments Bach himself would have recognized.
Composition History
J. S. Bach composed the Goldberg Variations in 1741, and they were published with the description: 'Aria with diverse variations for a harpsichord with two manuals composed for music lovers to refresh their spirits'.
Compositional Technique
The Goldberg Variations are composed on a 32-bar bass line, not a melody, and consist of 30 variations bookended by the famous Aria.
Performer Biography
The Philharmonia Orchestra, founded in 1945, has recorded around 150 film soundtracks and has over three million listeners each month on Spotify.
