Goldberg Variations

Goldberg Variations BWV988

Composer: Bach, JS

Publisher: Little Piper

Instrumentation: Flute and Guitar

Originally for harpsichord, this was first published in 1741 and is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form.  This piece consists of an aria and a set of 30 variations.  The variations in this transcription are numbers 18, 22 and 30.  Variation 18 is Canon at the Sixth, which has the canonic interplay featuring many suspensions.  Number 22 is Alla Breve, and features four-part writing with many imitative passages and its development in all voices, but the ground bass line is much like that of a fugue.  Variation 30, Quodlibet, is based on multiple German folk songs, one being Ich bin solang nicht bei dir g'west, ruck her, ruck her (I have so long been away from you, come closer, come closer).