Bach, J.S. – BWV 988: Clavierübung, Goldberg Variations (1955, Glenn Gould, HQ MP3, 432hz)

Listen to : Bach, J.S. – BWV 988: Clavierübung, Goldberg Variations (1955, Glenn Gould, HQ MP3, 432hz)

The “Goldberg” Variations is the last of a series of keyboard music Bach published under the title of Clavierübung, 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”.

Listen to : Bach, J.S. – BWV 988: Clavierübung, Goldberg Variations (1955, Glenn Gould, HQ MP3, 432hz)

Free download:

Track List:

01. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ I. Aria.mp3
02. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ II. Variation 1.mp3
03. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ III. Variation 2.mp3
04. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ IV. Variation 3.mp3
05. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ V. Variation 4.mp3
06. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ VI. Variation 5.mp3
07. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ VII. Variation 6.mp3
08. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ VIII. Variation 7.mp3
09. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ IX. Variation 8.mp3
10. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ X. Variation 9.mp3
11. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XI. Variation 10.mp3
12. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XII. Variation 11.mp3
13. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XIII. Variation 12.mp3
14. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XIV. Variation 13.mp3
15. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XV. Variation 14.mp3
16. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XVI. Variation 15.mp3
17. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XVII. Variation 16.mp3
18. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XVIII. Variation 17.mp3
19. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XIX. Variation 18.mp3
20. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XX. Variation 19.mp3
21. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XXI. Variation 20.mp3
22. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XXII. Variation 21.mp3
23. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XXIII. Variation 22.mp3
24. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XXIV. Variation 23.mp3
25. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XXV. Variation 24.mp3
26. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XXVI. Variation 25.mp3
27. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XXVII. Variation 26.mp3
28. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XXVIII. Variation 27.mp3
29. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XXIX. Variation 28.mp3
30. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XXX. Variation 29.mp3
31. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XXXI. Variation 30.mp3
32. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988_ XXXII. Aria (reprise).mp3