When harpsichordist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg asked Bach to write pieces for him to play to help a Saxon count get to sleep at night he could hardly have realized that he was playing a key role in creating music that would inspire audiences and musicians for centuries.

Not only are the Goldberg Variations among the most frequently performed works today, they also continue to inspire composers to write new variations on the famous themes. We’ll feature an incredible array of these this week on Relevant Tones.

Hosted by Seth Boustead
Produced by Jesse McQuarters

Dan Tepfer: Improvisation 1 & Variation 1
Dan Tepfer, piano

Uri Caine: The Introitus Variation
Kettwiger Bach Ensemble; David Moss, vocals

J.S. Bach: Aria fr. Goldberg Variations
Jeremy Denk, piano

Misha Zupko: Ghost Variation
Lara Downes, piano

Jennifer Higdon: Gilmore Variation
Lara Downes, piano

Derek Bermel: Kontraphunktus
Lara Downes, piano

Karlheinz Essl: Fantasia Chromatica fr. Gold.berg.werk for instruments and electronics
Christina Neubauer, violin; Martin Kraushofer, viola; Eva Landkammer, cello

Gabriela Montero: Improvisation on the Aria fr. Bach’s Goldberg Variations
Gabriela Montero, piano

Uri Caine: Variation 9 (Canon at the Third)
Ralph Alesi, trumpet; Don Byron, clarinet; Uri Caine, piano; Reid Anderson, bass

Uri Caine: Variation 10 (Fughetta)
Kettwiger Bach Ensemble; David Moss, vocals

J.S. Bach: Aria fr. Goldberg Variations (excerpt)
Lara Downes, piano

Bright Sheng: Variation Fugato
Lara Downes, piano

Étude 21

Relevant TonesBy Seth BousteadApr 26, 2022