Output details

Bach Goldberg Variations

This recording investigates possibilities for imbuing the work with a shape of the performer's making through selective repeats (of the canons and four voiced variations - not found in any other recorded version) and purposefully timed silences and climaxes. Means for accessing drama and pianistic colour are drawn both from historical performance and golden age practices, disregarding the anachronistic nature of some of these techniques. The aim is to present the oftentimes arcane aspects of the work in an entertaining way to a modern listener. The fertile paradox of such an approach is that in rendering the work more 'accessible' to a modern audience the performer must lavish intricate means of reference and sophisticated mastery of various performance traditions/conventions onto the work, effectively adding layers of esoterica and complication of his own creation, thus putting in question the notion if interpretation as such.

The recording concludes with the first solo recording which does not use multi-tracking of the 14 Canons on the first eight notes of the Goldberg bass – here transcribed as a free passacaglia.