description Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 Overview
The Goldberg Variations is a keyboard composition by Johann Sebastian Bach, published in 1741 as the fourth part of his Clavier-Übung series. The work consists of an initial aria followed by 30 diverse variations that adhere to the harmonic structure of the aria's bass line. It incorporates a strict sequence of canons at progressive intervals, as well as fughettas and a concluding quodlibet. Originally intended for harpsichord, it is celebrated as a masterwork of Baroque contrapuntal music.
help Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 FAQ
Do the Goldberg Variations repeat the aria's melody?
Mostly they do not. The 30 variations are built around the aria's bass line and harmonic plan, allowing Bach to replace its melody with dances, virtuoso textures, counterpoint, and character pieces.
Why is every third Goldberg Variation a canon?
Beginning with Variation 3, every third variation is a canon whose interval rises step by step from the unison to the ninth. This hidden structural ladder helps organize a work that otherwise changes texture almost constantly.
Were the Goldberg Variations actually written to cure insomnia?
The famous insomnia story comes from Johann Nikolaus Forkel's early biography of Bach, published decades after the composer's death. No surviving contemporary document confirms that Count Hermann Carl von Keyserlingk commissioned the work for the keyboardist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg.
Why do pianists often mention Glenn Gould when discussing the Goldberg Variations?
Gould's 1955 recording helped establish his international career and presented the work with unusual speed and clarity. He recorded it again in 1981, producing a markedly slower and more reflective interpretation.
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