The Goldberg Variations is arguably the most celebrated and distinguished work of art of all time. It is named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg and written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1741. Bach published the Goldberg Variations in his fourth Clavierübung harpsichord composition. The perplexity of Bach’s achievement is why his composition is so recognized worldwide. Surprisingly, the Goldberg Variations, which consists of a set of Aria’s and 30 variations, does not comply with the Baroque concept of the genre because the variation takes place in the harmonic basis, not the theme. The Goldberg Variation marks the beginning of the many other successful works like the Musical Offering, The Canonic Variations, and The Art of Fugue. Over the centuries, countless musicians have tried to interpret and arrange Bach in numerous ways. Such acts have produced mixed results, although two notables are Ferruccio Busoni and Glenn Gould who ultimately became two of the most renowned virtuosos of their respective time periods.

VARIATION 1:

PURITAN:I recently re-recorded the Goldberg Variations, returning to Bach's text in my forty-eighth year. As a prelude to the recording sessions I of course felt obliged to listen to my original interpretation of the score which is now some thirty-one years old ...
[Cross-fade to Variation 1, early version. Light on: the Prodigy reads from his yellow legal-length pad. The Puritan is turned away from him. They remain unaware of one another.]
 PRODIGY:Letter to posterity. I am about to record the Goldberg Variations. I spent this morning going over the score and for the first time I could hear the entire thing in my head.

In several scenes of the play (specifically variations 1, 2 and 9) the puritan and the prodigy mention the Goldberg Variations. The Goldbergs are critical to the play because the prodigy initially records Goldbergs at a fast pace and speeds through without his trademark adeptness for technicalities and the ability to express the polyphonic feel of Bach's music. Later on, the puritan re-records the variations and it is evident that he has interpreted the Variations to the point of mastery of sorts. Consequently, it is apparent throughout the play that the Goldberg Variations play a monumental role in the development of Glenn Gould's music and his personality.

Page by: Andrew Savory
 
Make a Free Website with Yola.