The 'Goldberg' nickname for Bach's variations comes from his 1802 biographer, Johann Nikolaus Forkel, and refers to Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, a student of Bach.
Compositional Technique
The Goldberg Variations are a set of thirty variations on a 32-bar ground bass, introduced and concluded by an 'aria', making a total of 32 pieces.
Compositional Technique
Among the thirty movements, every third variation is a canon, a strictly imitative piece where two upper voices follow each other note-for-note over the ground bass.
Album & Artwork
The Goldberg Variations represent the last Bach that Peter Watchorn played for his partner Greg Miller, to whom this album is dedicated.
Performer Biography
Peter Watchorn is also noted as a harpsichord builder and researcher, having joined Hubbard & Broekman and collaborated with Zuckermann Harpsichords International.
Album & Artwork
This entire series of recordings is a tribute to Greg Miller, the partner of harpsichordist Peter Watchorn for thirty-one years.
Performer Biography
Peter Watchorn, the harpsichordist on this album, has an international reputation for his high standard of performance and received the Erwin Bodky Memorial Award in 1985.
