Bach’s (Epic) Goldberg Variations: An Analysis on Theme & Variations 

Just a few days ago I listened to the Goldberg Variations performed live by Sir András Schiff in an old 18th century baroque church in Germany - it was a truly outstanding experience I will never forget.

don't you mean gouldberg variations? :p

Jean Rondeau, a young French harpsichordist, has delivered a performance of the Goldberg variations that is absolutely fabulous. Game changer for both the variations and the instrument. Unparalleled Bach brilliance, IMHO, on a period instrument.

I listen to Goldberg Var every morning. It makes my day.

The strings version of the Goldberg Variations is magnificent.

Nice video, but I would not call it analysis, rather more an overview or presentation. A few additional details: The beginning of the bass line is based on a very common pattern used by many baroque composers; ie the descending tetrachord from tonic to dominant. Bach himself used it extensively in many pieces, for example the sarabande of the french suite N1 you also presented. Vivaldi (and other italian composers) used a variant called the Lament Bass either diatonic or chromatic and generally in minor. The bass line though is rarely maintained intact and it is the subject of many alterations (occasionally also the subject of rythmic displacement). the bass line is not per se an harmonic pattern, it is constructed as a continuo framework forming the starting point for the counterpoint. The structure of the set is not as regular as you seem to imply. It is divided in the middle by an overture (var 16), so there are 3 canons in the first half and 4 in the second and the canon sequence starts on the 3rd variation and stops at the 29th; canon in Var 12 and 15 are in contrary motion. All canon except the last one are in trio sonata form with 2 voices in canon and a free bass. You may note that there are 32 measures in the aria and a total of 32 pieces in the whole set. Other points that could be the subject of interest are the indications for the type of harpsichord to be used (1, 2 manuals, ..) which is quite rare with Bach, the ornaments which are complex to interpret how to play, the rythmic patterns, the structure of the fugues, ....

Wow! I have been enjoying these variations for 30 years, just as music, without mucg caring for the theory behind them, but that's just one of the things about Bach's music, it's like great architecture that you can just enjoy, and you can also go deep into the structure and construction of it - great!

This video's title card is disturbing! 😂

Shortest explanation: Bach and Goldberg dropped the REMIX way before R Kelly and P Diddy. Filled the clubs, bought out the bar, schnapps for everyone!

Well +Septobus, I think you've officially made the most horrifying preview image.

Var 1 is my favorite

In the quodlibet, two popular melodies are processed, which makes the effect even funnier. The first song is called: "Du bist so lang nicht bei mir gewest, ruck her, ruck her", which translates as you've been away so long, come closer, come closer. To which the second song answers "Kraut und Rüben haben mich vertrieben", cabbage and turnips have driven me away.

I definitely wouldn't mind this being an hour long video, oh well.

Beautifully done. I’ve played Bach as a 4th rate amateur for 60 years, and have only lately, after finally developing an ear, had the luxury of diving into the keyboard works of his last 10 years up. If I had the benefit of such clear thinking analysis and commentary in such an accessible presentation as yours in my youth, I might have actually have been able to do justice to such a monument of human achievement. Well done.

I’m preparing to record the Goldberg Variations for an album. This is such a helpful video! 🙌🙌

I just realized I’m a carrot

BTW, Glen Gould spotify link: open.spotify.com/album/6RkddyAzYq3QNZqdAhxPxF

This has been my favorite piece of music for quite a long while now. András Schiff's explanation/lecture (which can be seen right here on RU-vid) only added to my appreciation of this fantastic achievement in music.

Oh my goodness... this video came out seven years ago already?! Dang. I've been listening to Glenn Gould's Goldberg Variations for ... I'm getting old... 35 years. I never get tired of studying these pieces, even though I don't play piano (i read and write for piano). I love your music explorations. Thank you again!

The new attention span is 12min., not 15 mins. quack quack. But after watching your video till the end, I think it should be 30 min.

Please pianoTV can you please show how to make variations of the variations you can make in theme and variation. I would really like to know how to learn to improvise theme and variation

Calling the GV merely “epic” is one of the most severe understatements I have encountered.

謝謝！

Thank you! Can you run a finger or a pointer along the sheet music to help us follow along?

Love watching talk about music, you transmit such a cool energy. Love your eyes when you show excitement 🙂

nooooo why does everyone hate the harpsichord?!!! DX

the fifth variation is mad with up tempo speed

You might want to consider changing your thumbnail at this point in history

I'm not a piano player but I absolutely love your videos. Such high-level production and contents

Aaahhhhh What is this thumbnail!? My eyes, the goggles do nothing!

Great job with this video! Much appreciated!

0:26 Glenn Gould: Hold my beer

I must say that this video has the best thumbnail of every video on youtube!!

That is.. one kind of a Bach picture..

Glenn Gould's interpretation of Bach's concierto in D minor is the only Bach piece I like. The goldberg variations are utter trash.

Great video, I never knew that stuff although I've heard the Variations many times. Aria 25 is also the soundtrack to The Terminal Man, not a great film though

Thank you, Thank you for your analysis.

Thank you. Great video!

Imo: the Goldberg Variations are not the Goldberg Variations without Gould's humming and singing softly in the background

Gave a like for the thumbnail

In this context it's also interesting to note how the constant of the bass line correlates with what we'd call changes, or the chord progression. Yes, on the obvious level, where the bass is the foundation and outlines the chords. But more specifically that this is counterpoint, where the chords occur, really, as vertical side effects of the interrelated horizontal action in the individual voices. Like, if we asked Bach "What's the chord in bar six?", he'd understand the question, but he might think we're putting the cart before the horse. It's just endlessly interesting how functional harmony evolved, and how so many of the roads lead through this individual who was the supreme utterance of all humankind.

I listen to GGs 1981 version all the time at night when I have trouble sleeping. Thanks for the explanation.

I think the equivalent in popular music of variations is remixes. It used to be the case -- it might still be -- that you could buy compilations with a bunch of remixes of the same tune. I remember I bought one like that for Nine Inch Nail's "Head like a hole", although it also contained some other songs by them.

Regarding the mention of Arabesque: those are not in any way a known form in Baroque music. It is a title that Ralph Kirkpatrick gave to those pieces in his Schirmer edition; it has then been re-used by the article of Wikipedia (and others) which I assume you have used. The article is somehow ambiguous about it; it does mention the source of Kirkpatrick but is not very clear about the fact that it is a personal naming made by R.K. (unlike other articles which are more explicit about it). This title is not used by any scholar anymore today. There are very few pieces called Arabesque in baroque music, most of them being composed in the 19th century; one can mention a piece in Marin Marais suite for Viola but it is not a form and designate the figure (Arabesque being an ornament fot example in architecture). The Goldberg pieces you are referring to, are in fact 2 voices duets written in brilliant style (ornaments, fast passages, broken chords, ...) which is likely why R.K. called them arabesque by analogy with the complex architectural figures. Speed is usually faster but some of them have a fairly common recommended speed of c. 80 quarters/mn (R.K) in the average of many pieces written by Bach. All are in 3/4 except one in 12/16.

Jesus that thumbnail is unsettling

Hey pianoTV could you create an episode dedicated to the "brief history of Liszt?"

Thanks for the analysis! I didn’t realize the theme was the bassline lol. But now I see/hear it.

Great video, I’ll play this while having my friend for dinner

❤

Handel have a lot of chaconnes, arias and minuets with variations. Try HWV 443 chaconne it’s soo beautiful. Handel’s chaconne HWV 442 uses the same bass line.

That Aria was used in the French/Japanese movie "Fear and Trembling". Great music and awesome movie. Oh yeah, I like your channel too. :)

I really love your videos, I love listening to your casual but informed approach to all this fascinating stuff. But my favorite thing is how light and kinda silly you are about certain things, namely your thumbnails. BEST thumbnail ever. Made me cringe and then laugh out loud. I love your channel!

Worst thumbnail ever

Great video, great channel, I was wondering if you could do a video on Debussy or maybe even my favourite composer Erik Satie.

In Var6 the theme begins on G, and she stated that in the 6th variation the repeat of the theme would start on A, but I can't see it there. Have I missed it or does the theme not play again until later?

Sounds better on harpsichord.

Excellent video, such a joy to view! Now I know when I purchase the Goldburgh Variations, I will first sight read and then learn Variations #30 and the Aria. This is a fun video-loved Bach's lighter side-his jokester side-Ha-ha:) Thank you for sharing

Who is playing in the excerpts? They're good!

You have birthmark on your neck almost in the same place i have it, wow

your analysis is so clear, easy and really funny but still very helpful and interesting!!! thank you sooo much! i m going to watch all your videos now :)

Ah, I will have nightmares about the thumbnail

Your big green eyes always frighten me if you get excited

so, which variation was hannibal lecter listening to?

There was only on modern Bach pianist GG was amazing and this was his thang :-)

Hi! A question: the "Aria" version at 3:53... is it yours or its someone else's recording?

I hadn't heard Jeremy Denk's Goldberg until now - in my top three now (along with Gould and Schiff).

I just found fu***ng love your videos! And Bach videos!

Isnt the "music man" a sort of modern variation?

Thanks so much. Great job

Do the Brandenburg concertos

ништяк

The thumbnail though 😂

What rcm level is the aria

You missed Chopins variations :(

The opening aria is in fact a sarabande. First section is built in french style on a 4 measure pattern. Interestingly at the end measures 27 to 80, the style goes italian with a change in the rythm which is duple meter on the dotted quarter before coming back to the 3/4 in measure 81 and final closing bar.

What exactly *is* an arabesque?

8:44 there is no hand crossing on that variation

Please stop calling pieces "songs". Pieces are instrumental, songs have voice(s).

Lovely music, great commentary, thank you. Just a note on the looks (and why in the world we need TV for Bach?): did anybody tell you that this heavy eye shadows make you look like you haven't slept for three days? Or perhaps you didn’t and you try to cover it? Anyway, not important, the music is important, Bach is important, and both of these are lovely. Soli Deo Gloria!