Bach's spectacular Goldberg Variations represent a high point in the repertory of keyboard music, particularly for the harpsichord. This book takes a detailed look at how these variations originated, especially in relation to all Bach's Clavier?bung volumes and late keyboard works, what their exceptionally intricate plan is, what kind of impact they have had, and how their mysterious beauty has been created. This guide to what was at the time the largest and most carefully conceived single work of keyboard music will appeal to students, performers and listeners.
Author(s): Peter Williams
Series: Cambridge Music Handbooks
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2001
Language: English
Pages: 120
Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Series-title......Page 4
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Abbreviations......Page 8
The hallowed reputation......Page 9
The popular name ‘Goldberg’......Page 11
The formal name ‘Clavierübung IV’......Page 14
A note on editions......Page 16
The intended harpsichord......Page 17
Clavierübung......Page 22
Clavierübung I......Page 23
Clavierübung II......Page 28
Clavierübung III......Page 32
‘Clavierübung IV’......Page 36
The ‘Fourteen Canons’, BWV 1087......Page 40
The theme-type......Page 43
The plan and its threes......Page 47
The plan and its twos......Page 51
Some further general points......Page 53
Remarks on the notation......Page 58
Aria......Page 62
Variation 1......Page 64
Variation 2......Page 65
Variation 4......Page 66
Variation 5......Page 68
Variation 6......Page 69
Variation 7......Page 70
Variation 8......Page 71
Variation 10......Page 72
Variation 11......Page 73
Variation 13......Page 75
Variation 14......Page 76
Variation 15......Page 77
Variation 16......Page 78
Variation 17......Page 81
Variation 18......Page 82
Variation 19......Page 83
Variation 20......Page 84
Variation 21......Page 85
Variation 22......Page 86
Variation 23......Page 87
Variation 24......Page 88
Variation 25......Page 89
Variation 26......Page 92
Variation 27......Page 93
Variation 28......Page 94
Variation 29......Page 95
Variation 30......Page 96
Texts:......Page 98
Aria......Page 100
The first hundred years......Page 101
Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations......Page 104
Some modern theories......Page 106
1 Background and genesis......Page 111
2 Overall shape......Page 112
4 Questions of reception......Page 113
Bibliography......Page 115
Index......Page 118
