Table of Contents
- 1 Which is the best recording of the Goldberg Variations?
- 2 How many times did Glenn Gould record Goldberg Variations?
- 3 Why are the Goldberg Variations important?
- 4 Why does Goldberg have variations?
- 5 How many Bach Goldberg Variations are there?
- 6 Was Liberace considered a good pianist?
- 7 Why did Gould record Bach’s Goldberg Variations in 1955?
- 8 What was the last recording of Gould’s music?
- 9 What makes Gould’s Goldbergs so special?
Which is the best recording of the Goldberg Variations?
This work is a staple in classical keyboard repertoire. Here we list the best recordings of JS Bach’s Goldberg Variations from the last 20 years….Stream on Apple Music.
| 1 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria | 4:06 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variatio 1. a 1 Clav | 1:58 |
How many times did Glenn Gould record Goldberg Variations?
The late great Canadian pianist Glenn Gould made two significant and highly-acclaimed recordings of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, the first in 1955 when he was just 22, the second a quarter of a century later in 1981 when he was nearing the end of his life.
How long does it take to learn Goldberg Variations?
According to Guerrero, tapping taught the pianist an economy of muscle movement that would enable precision at high speeds. Gould “tapped” each Goldberg variation before recording it, which took about 32 hours.
Why are the Goldberg Variations important?
Long regarded as the most serious and ambitious work for keyboard, the Goldberg Variations display J S Bach’s exceptional knowledge of the many different styles of music of his day, and his own exquisite performing techniques.
Why does Goldberg have variations?
The variations are based on the same Aria bass, but it’s only eight measures long. And Bach thought that ‘This is a wonderful idea to have many variations on such a promising ground bass. But the bass is too short for me, I’ll make it longer. ‘ So instead of eight measures, he turned it into 32 measures.”
Why are Goldberg Variations hard?
The Goldberg variations were designed to be pleasant enough and listened as a coherent whole, so they are more sought after, resulting in a larger competition. And you can’t go easy on either the difficult or easy ones without impacting your overall performance.
How many Bach Goldberg Variations are there?
30 variations
What are the Goldberg Variations? The work itself consists of 30 variations, starting with a single ‘Aria’. After transforming the music over the course of an hour, using different time signatures, textures, and harmonies, the beautiful first aria returns, with a completely different feel from the first hearing.
Was Liberace considered a good pianist?
Liberace was a very good pianist technically. He was a child prodigy and originally played classical music. I have some sheet music of popular songs arranged as Liberace played them: his own Boogie Woogie, a ragtime number, etc.
How hard is the Goldberg Variations?
In print, the Goldbergs (Goldberg Variations) have a quasi-legendary status, a hallmark of technical difficulty. I was perusing the score and it doesn’t look terribly intricate for what’s possibly a majority of the variations – certainly less than Bach’s 3- or 4-part works.
Why did Gould record Bach’s Goldberg Variations in 1955?
With his 1955 recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, the young pianist made a compelling case for a work that, at the time, was considered an obscure keyboard composition by an otherwise imposing master of Baroque music. Gould made his counter-argument for the piece’s rightful prominence by taking wild liberties with the source.
What was the last recording of Gould’s music?
The last recording to appear in Gould’s lifetime, completing the discographical circle that had begun so spectacularly with the same work in 1955. “I would like to think that there is a kind of autumnal repose in what I’m doing, so that much of the music becomes a tranquilizing experience.
What is the difference between Gould’s 1955 and 1981 performances?
The most startling contrast is in the sheer length of the performances. In 1955 Gould got through the work in 38 minutes, while in 1981 he took 51; in the later account he does observe some repeats (there were none in 1955), but there is also a broadness, a sense of contemplation in a work that clearly meant more to him than any other.
What makes Gould’s Goldbergs so special?
Gould makes an argument for his own radical vision of how the piece should be played. He sees his own jagged cadence not in defiance of but as a requisite to Bach’s score. Even listeners who put the Goldbergs on as background music are likely to sit up and pay attention when Gould pours it on during Variation No. 5.