goldberg variations

     

The Golberg Variations, BWV 988, are a set of 30 variations for harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach. First published in 1741 as the fourth in a series Bach called Clavier-Übung, "keyboard practice", the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form. It is named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who may have been the first performer.

Trivia about goldberg variations

  • This set of 30 variations was named for a student of Bach's also named Johann
  • Jerome Robbins choreographed a ballet to these Bach "Variations"
  • A count's insomnia prompted these pieces that were to be played by a 14-year-old harpsichordist

Found pages about goldberg variations