Product Description
Widely popularized by Glenn Gould's recording of 1955, J. S. Bach s monumental Goldberg Variations has become a musical shrine where transcriptions are offered for almost any instrument or combination, from solo guitar to saxophone quartet. Each brings a new perspective to the piece, endlessly enriching our experience and enjoyment of Bach's inventiveness, and giving credence to the German maxim Niemand kann Bach kaputt macht (nobody can ruin Bach!). Bach's music is so strong, it easily transcends time, styles, and instrumental idioms. In this recording, we play the string trio version, dedicated to Gould, by renowned violinist Dmitri Sitkovetsky.
The Goldberg s 30 variations, framed by the Aria theme, are not elaborations on a tune as one normally would expect, but are variations on the bass line or harmonic progression that underlies the Aria theme. Nine interspersed canons lie at the heart of the work...
Review
Much has been made of the mathematics inherent in Bach's Goldberg
Variations, made famous in a 1955 recording by pianist Glenn Gould. 'The structural beauty and symmetry of Bach's variations is a source of constant marvel and revelation to anyone who goes searching for details' violist Douglas McNabney writes in the liner notes of this gorgeous new recording of violinist Dmitri Sitkovetsky's string-trio arrangement of these famous works. '. . . There seems to be no end to the patterns and relationships to be discovered in the architecture of the whole.' And much can be said of the outstanding playing that marks this graceful rendering of the 30 variations. Beyond the math are three string players-led by cellist Matt Haimovitz-reaching into their collective trick bag to bring brilliant technique to Bach's bevy of contrapuntal, harmonic, and metric devices, all delivered with immense feeling and passionate musicality. --Greg Cahill, Strings Magazine