How many variations does Bach Goldberg have?

30 variations
The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, is a musical composition for keyboard by Johann Sebastian Bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. First published in 1741, it is named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who may also have been the first performer of the work.

What’s so special about the Goldberg Variations?

Consisting of an opening aria and then 30 different variations on it, the Goldberg Variations — named after its first performer Johann Gottlieb Goldberg and published in 1741 — is Bach’s most popular keyboard work, partly because it isn’t laden with the academic formality of the Well-Tempered Clavier, and covers so …

What is the best recording of the Goldberg Variations?

The best recordings of JS Bach’s Goldberg Variations

  • Murray Perahia (piano) Sony Classical SK89243 (2000)
  • Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord) DG 479 5929 (2016)
  • Beatrice Rana (piano) Warner Classics 9029588018 (2017)
  • Murray Perahia (piano) Sony Classical SK89243 (2000)
  • Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord)
  • Beatrice Rana (piano)

How long does it take to play the Goldberg Variations?

The piece is eighty minutes long, and mostly in G major. Just think about that for a minute. Then (without a bathroom break) think very similar thoughts for 79 more minutes, winding around the same basic themes, and then you will have some idea of what it’s like to experience—you might even say survive—the Goldbergs.

Which is the hardest Goldberg Variation?

The hand crossing ones are the most difficult, although there are certain editions which negate the hand crossings and make for easier playing (even Andras Schiff “cheats” in Variation 23!)

Is Goldberg Variations polyphonic?

Bach never expected his music to survive him. Indeed, toward the end of his life polyphonic music like the Goldberg Variations, in which each voice was of equal importance, was already considered old-fashioned.

Why is Goldberg Variations so 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.

Why are the Goldberg Variations hard?

Why does Glenn Gould sing?

Gould was widely known for his unusual habits. He often hummed or sang while he played, and his audio engineers were not always able to exclude his voice from recordings. Gould claimed that his singing was unconscious and increased in proportion to his inability to produce his intended interpretation on a given piano.

How difficult is Bach 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.

What music did Hannibal Lecter listen to?

It is in The Silence of the Lambs that Lecter’s fondness for Bach is first mentioned. As part of his recompense for collaboration in the identification of Buffalo Bill, Lecter asks for ‘Glenn Gould, the Goldberg Variations’.