GENERAL DISCUSSION: Bach Goldberg Variations
Seems like a few of us are interested in taking a deep dive into a few of the amazing Goldberg Variations!
Since we will all be busy with next month's Community Challenge, I was thinking that this project could have a longer timeline. Perhaps we could even learn a few variations over the winter holidays?
What do you think about everyone learning the Aria and the each member suggests 1 variation for us all to learn?
So far, I think we have about 5-6 Tonebase friends in this group, so that would be only 5-6 variations so far. Please tag anyone else who'd like to join this "additional" challenge group!
Warmest regards,
Gail
Monika Tusnady Susan Sindre Pauline Juan Carlos Olite Genevieve
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Great idea but please!!!..no repeats! The Goldberg Variations are very difficult and learning to play even just a couple of variations COMME IL FAUT is a challenge. It might be interesting for each one of us participants 1> to find the ONE recording that resonates the most with us and 2> to learn the aria. Small bites.
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Monika Tusnady I love your ideas! I actually like beatrice rana because she is new and
fresh. I met her in Atlanta. The Glenn Gould and Roslyn Tureck recordings are amazing but I think I have heard them so often that they don't inspire me as much as they used to.I have never actually worked on any of the Goldberg's but I'd like to try.
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Gail Starr Beatrice plays this piece so wonderfully!
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Dominic Cheli
So do YOU!
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We heard her at a lovely concert in ATL before COVID.
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It's a great idea, Gail, how you are channeling these friends concerns about Goldberg Variations. Thank you very much for that. It's very difficult to choose, but my personal proposal is the incredible beautiful Variation 13.
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Juan Carlos Olite Thank you . Hope I can do it ! Looking forward to hearing the new microphone .
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Juan Carlos Olite That is such a special variation! Can't wait to hear you play it :)
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mariannejhampton Please pick your favorite variation!
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Great idea and I’m thoroughly looking forward to this . Thank you Gail Starr . I just opened my Henle at variation no 22 and have decided I would like to play this particular one. I learned to play quite a few preludes and fugues from the WTC this way and all these variations are gorgeous ! Simone Dinnerstein is a favorite of mine for the variations .
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mariannejhampton I also want to do variation 21 as well if that’s okay ?
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mariannejhampton Variation 21 and 22 are wonderful! I absolutely love how the intensity of 21 gives way to the charm and dance of 22 :)
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Dominic Cheli Variation 21 is definitely growing on me although it’s not easy . I am having difficulty deciding which voice is going to have the limelight at a particular time . I think that is part of Bach’s genius as although Bach writes the score the musician is able to interpret it and makes it his .
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Gail Starr 15 is my all-time favorite. Moderate tempo, a great deal of expressive potential and oh my, the structure as a canon at the inversion!
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Hello Everyone! This is a great idea! I will join in :)
I will admit that I have already performed this piece before, but it never hurts to revisit it! :)
(From back in 2017)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypv4oO6Vz30
It is SO hard to pick a favorite variation, I will probably submit several!
A few of my absolute favorites include:
No.1, NUMBER 4, No.5, No.7, No.25 (nicknamed The black pearl), No.30!!!!
This piece is extremely difficult BUT manageable! For many of the variations they involve the need for double manual harpsichord, but CAN work well on a single-manual piano. I can offer my humble fingerings/hand crossing combinations (often different than the way the printed page suggests!) that I used for comfort and reliability if you request a certain variation!
Looking Forward and thanks for starting this, Gail!
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Dominic Cheli Absolutely THRILLING to know that you'll be part of this group exploration of the Goldberg. You can be our metaphorical lighthouse! It's fun to be connected with a group of people who are willing to embark on a project that is still quite vague and formless, but unquestionably worthwhile.
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Dominic Cheli That YouTube recording is just wonderful! The theme alone almost brought me to tears. Thank you so much for sharing!
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Dominic Cheli What a great start to my day watching/listening to your brilliant and beautiful YouTube video of the Goldberg Variations! I am so happy we will have the benefit of your expertise as we study this piece.
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Monika Tusnady I second Monika's delight! Our little "side hustle" group of Goldberg Fans would welcome your expertise and enthusiasm with open arms. THANK YOU!
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Dominic Cheli I spent a very enjoyable hour and a half listening to you play the variations on you tube this morning . Thank you
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Monika Tusnady Thanks for your compliment :)
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mariannejhampton Thanks a lot for listening so long!!!
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Susan Thanks! Indeed I hope to be able to help everyone achieve their goals with this piece!
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Dominic Cheli Sorry I meant 48.17 mins !! There is also a video of you talking about the variations done in Feb this year .
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Dominic Cheli Thank you for that fantastic performance! So grateful for everything you bring to this community. Very inspiring!
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Dominic Cheli I finally had some free time to listen to your gorgeous recording! I love your thoughtful and beautiful choices.
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