J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988

Featuring

Alexandra Papastefanou
Johann Sebastian Bach

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Composition History

According to Forkel, Bach composed the Goldberg Variations for Count Hermann Karl von Keyserling, the Russian Ambassador to the Imperial Court, to be played by his harpsichordist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg during nights of insomnia.

Composition History

The history of the Goldberg Variations' composition was handed down by Bach's biographer Johann Nikolaus Forkel, who wrote his biography in 1802, sixty years after the events.

Compositional Technique

The Goldberg Variations feature a clear structure with the number three being prevalent: 30 variations, every third variation is a canon at a rising interval, and the aria is in triple measure.

Performer Biography

Alexandra Papastefanou, the pianist on this album, has performed all of Bach's keyboard works and has previously recorded his complete Well-Tempered Clavier and French Suites to critical acclaim.

Composition History

Bach's Goldberg Variations were published in the autumn of 1741 as the fourth and final part of his Clavierübung (Keyboard Exercise) cycle.

Compositional Technique

The work includes a 'Quodlibet' as its 30th variation, which is an 'in-joke' where Bach combines two popular songs, "Ich bin so lang nicht bei dir g'west" and "Kraut und Rüben haben mich vertrieben."