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●★ J. S. Bach : Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - (for String Ensemble)
★●
Transcription for strings by
Dmitry
Sitkovetsky
NES
Chamber Orchestra
The "Goldberg" Variations
(BWV 988)
The "Goldberg" Variations is the last of a series
of keyboard music Bach published under the title of Clavier�bung, and is
often regarded as the most serious and ambitious composition ever written for
harpsichord. Based on a single ground bass theme, the variations display not
only Bach's exceptional knowledge of diverse styles of music of the day but also
his exquisite performing techniques. Being also the largest of all clavier
pieces published during the Baroque period, the work soars high above others in
terms of its encyclopaedic character. From this, it is often considered that it
sums up the entire history of Baroque variation, the Diabelli Variations
by Beethoven being the Classical counterpart. However, doomed perhaps by its
requirements of virtuoso techniques from a performer, it was not as popularly
known as the Well-Tempered Clavier, which was not even published during
the composer's lifetime. Nonetheless, the work has long been regarded as the
most important set of variations composed in the Baroque era: in 1774 Johann
Philipp Kirnberger, one of Bach's pupils, referred to it as "the best
variations", while in 1802 Johann Nicolaus Forkel, the author of the first ever
biography of J. S. Bach, praised the work as the "model, according to which all
variations should be made".
Clavier�bung Series
The "Goldberg" Variations was published in 1741. To the first edition was
given the following title:
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Clavier�bung
consisting of
an Aria
with Diverse Variations
for the Harpsichord
with Two Manuals
Composed for Music Lovers,
to Refresh their
Spirits, by
Johann Sebastian Bach:
Royal Polish and
Electoral Saxon Composer,
Capellmeister, and Director Chori Musici in
Leipzig.
N�rnberg: Published by
Balthasar Schmid."
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