Photo: Wally Gobetz (Flickr)
A statue of Johan Sebastian Bach at Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, Oakland.
Many would perceive Johann Sebastian Bach’s music as timeless, but a recent CD adds authority to this belief. Thirteen contemporary composers have written pieces for piano inspired by the “Aria” from Bach’s Goldberg Variations. While the original tune is not always recognizable, each composer’s interpretation is unique and demonstrates how different people can interpret the same music.
Let’s listen to parts of Chasing Goldberg by Fred Lerdahl and Variation on Variation with Variation by Ralf Gothoni all performed by Lara Downes on the CD 13 Ways of looking at the Goldberg.
Music Heard On This Episode
Johann Sebastian Bach: "Aria" from Goldberg Variations
Lara Downes, piano — 13 Ways of Looking at the Goldberg (Tritone Records, 2011)
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