Goldberg Variations

[cerulean]

After listening to them like a million times on my nano the past 2 weeks, I've decided to begin studying this wonderful music.

My concern right now is which edition/book/etc i should buy. The pdf from piano street is nice to read while listening to the music, but not for learning - at least not for me! The sheet music archive has one, any comments on that?

any suggestions welcome. thanks a lot

[iumonito]

Barenreiter.  Should run about $17.

If you're cheapo, you can get an Urtext edition from burtnco for about $8.  Or get the Dover one with the partitas, etc., which is not bad at all.

[cerulean]

Barenreiter. Should run about $17.

If you're cheapo, you can get an Urtext edition from burtnco for about $8. Or get the Dover one with the partitas, etc., which is not bad at all.

thanks! i looked it up on the barenreiter website. it says it's an urtext edition. does it have fingerings? the sample they show doesn't.

[michael_langlois]

I have the Dover and it is fine.  If you do not mind the lack of editing, I suggest you go with that, as it is very inexpensive (less than $10, I believe) and contains all of the Partitas, English Suites, French Suites, Inventions, Sinfonias, as well as the Goldberg Variations.

Best,
Michael

[jre58591]

take a look at busoni's edition, which is pblished by breitkopf and härtel. it has explanations and many notes, which can help with your study. thal posted it in another thread i think.

[iumonito]

take a look at busoni's edition, which is pblished by breitkopf and härtel. it has explanations and many notes, which can help with your study. thal posted it in another thread i think.

By all means, but with the enormous caveat that Busoni's is very much a free transcription, kind of like the Liszt-Busoni Mephisto Waltz.

[pianistimo]

i didn't realize busoni did this.  despite making fun of his concerto - i love his transcriptions.  i think they are more fun to play than bach's limited keyboard useage.  busoni probably puts in the octaves.