Bach - Goldberg Variations, BWV988 (Live)

[andhow04]

hello everyone it has really been a Bach year. i was engaged two weeks ago to play the goldberg variations for a concert series, here is the recording.  the hall was filled to capcity, i think they are a cult favorite that brings a lot of people out of the woodwork when done live.  i first learned the variations 10 years ago and have played them several times.

i split it into two files because of the size limits, but obviously in teh concert i went straight thru.

Part I


UPDATE:  Here is the entire performance on video.  Clever listeners will notice i edited out some of the repeats in the audio only version... 

[andhow04]

Part II

[m1469]

Haven't listened to the entire, yet, but so far I find it gorgeous .  I love the Goldbergs, and I love them more and more over the years.  I don't play them, but would probably like to at least have them "around" for my own enjoyment, if nothing else.  I appreciate your phrasing and ornaments .

Thanks for posting!

[Derek]

This is fantastic. Thanks for posting your performance. Sometimes when I hear a non-famous musician play a famous piece, it sounds so much better than the recordings I've got. I like your choice of tempo in most of the variations. And the way you brought out the inner voice in the aria was really remarkable. I'm not sure I've heard anybody else play it like that. Nicely done. I also wanted to add that I had not intended to listen to the whole recording at first, but I was enjoying it so much that I could not stop.

[rachfan]

Hi anyhow,

Bravo!  I listened to the entire work.  Yours is a remarkable achievement and it is so very well performed too.  Congratulations!

David

[andhow04]

Haven't listened to the entire, yet, but so far I find it gorgeous .  I love the Goldbergs, and I love them more and more over the years.  I don't play them, but would probably like to at least have them "around" for my own enjoyment, if nothing else.  I appreciate your phrasing and ornaments .

Thanks for posting!

Thanks for listening. this was done on a great piano, a steinway D in perfect condition, that wasa bout 30 years old they told me.  Also, the venue for teh concert was an old gothic church that was lit entriely, other than a spotlight, by candles.  when they invited me to play on the series, i knew it had to be goldberg variations.

over the years my impression has change dsomewhat of them, now i find them much harder from a certain standpoint, which is how to choose tempi and characterize each variation, and create a feeling of a continuous progression from beginning to end.  it's a lot of responsibility and can be very difficult to apprehend.

thanks again

[starstruck5]

Glad I signed up to PianoStreet - this alone makes that worthwhile.   

You must be very proud of this performance. A work of art in its own right.

[andhow04]

This is fantastic. Thanks for posting your performance. Sometimes when I hear a non-famous musician play a famous piece, it sounds so much better than the recordings I've got. I like your choice of tempo in most of the variations. And the way you brought out the inner voice in the aria was really remarkable. I'm not sure I've heard anybody else play it like that. Nicely done. I also wanted to add that I had not intended to listen to the whole recording at first, but I was enjoying it so much that I could not stop.

i'm very grateful for your comments, i put a lot of thought into the tempos and how they progress.  i dont know if anyone else plays the aria as i do, but the recordings i listened to in particular are the 1980 glenn gould, the wanda landowska, vladimir feltsman, and some non-piano versions (guillou on organ and a string trio version).  over the years i have gotten different ideas from all of them.

anyways so glad you liked it, thanks

[scottmcc]

Due to a combination of time constraints and poor Internet connection I've only been able to listen to the first half of each section.  Everything I have heard so far is marvelous.  Thank you.

[andhow04]

Hi anyhow,

Bravo!  I listened to the entire work.  Yours is a remarkable achievement and it is so very well performed too.  Congratulations!

David

thanks for the kind words and glad you listened to the entire... playing the whoel thing must be like walking a tightrope (ive never walked a tightrope but i can only imagine). hope you heard the applause at the end too

[andhow04]

the video from this performance is posted above.
the concert series invited me to play ont heir "Candlelight Recital" event, so i chose the goldbergs. you may notice a chair strangely placed on a platform behind the piano; that's because the evening started with a perofmrance of bach's cello suite no.3 in c major.

[pianowolfi]

Respect, so much respect! I'm listening and watching right now and I very much enjoy your Goldberg Variations! Well at the moment (in my current state of exhaustion, for which these variations are of course therapeutic too, in your interpretation! ) I can't say much more than "hats off"!! and thank you for posting!

[andhow04]

Respect, so much respect! I'm listening and watching right now and I very much enjoy your Goldberg Variations! Well at the moment (in my current state of exhaustion, for which these variations are of course therapeutic too, in your interpretation! ) I can't say much more than "hats off"!! and thank you for posting!

i appreciate the comments!

[nanceekm]

Wonderful!  I love the way you play Bach! I have listened to this concert several times already and I plan to keep it bookmarked.  Wow!

[andhow04]

Wonderful!  I love the way you play Bach! I have listened to this concert several times already and I plan to keep it bookmarked.  Wow!

music to my ears thank you

[johnlewisgrant]

I'm hearing new things.  A lot of thought, here.  Valuable contribution to the interpretation of the GV.

JG

[pianovirus]

Hi andhow,

alas, I can't watch the video from Germany - the German performance rights organization GEMA seems to automatically claim every track of classical music (even happens to my amateur videos). It's very simple to claim your rights - just click on your Youtube name in the top right, and then on "video manager". There you should see a warning about the copyright status and can then file a dispute form. In my experience this solves things immediately. Otherwise I will listen to the audio only, but I'd be happy to follow the video!

-pianovirus

P.S. If you ever come to Southern Germany for a recital, please let me know!!

[birba]

This is my kind of Bach.  Such a beautiful touch - crystal clear - with expert use of the pedal.  And in that church it must not have been easy.  In fact, maybe you didn't pedal at all?
This is monumental masterpiece I look up to and really hope to perform one day.  I've studied them all but the technical obstacles are overwhelming.  In particular the crossing over of the voices.  If only the piano had 2 keyboards.  I bet it's been invented. 
You play with such poise and dignity.  Just what this music necessitates.

[emill]

PLaced your Bach performance "ON" while preparing for a new lecture topic to put me at ease and in a relaxed state .... but before I knew it  I was more into your playing than the topic I was preparing for...hehehe   THANKS!!!!

edit:  WOW ... just finished listening ... a very absorbing and enjoyable hour indeed!!! Excellently played and excellently recorded ... professionally done to say the least.  My only regret is I haven't started on my lecture yet and it is 2 am!!

alas, I can't watch the video from Germany - the German performance rights organization GEMA seems to automatically claim every track of classical music (even happens to my amateur videos).    -pianovirus   

You are so right ... these German entities have claims to ALL classical music 99% of which is in the Public Domain. Practically all the videos of my son, Enzo have claims by German entities, some of his videos are banned from being viewed in Germany.  We have filed counterclaims stating that these pieces are Public Domain and are are wholly and exclusively performed by Enzo.   

Their answer:  That they have reviewed our claim but insist that portions in part or in whole of their recordings were used by us ..... what lying bastards   ... wasting so much bandwidth making false claims.

[johnmar78]

I enjoyed your bach playing very much . 10/10 from Australia.

[andhow04]

Hi andhow,

alas, I can't watch the video from Germany - the German performance rights organization GEMA seems to automatically claim every track of classical music (even happens to my amateur videos). It's very simple to claim your rights - just click on your Youtube name in the top right, and then on "video manager". There you should see a warning about the copyright status and can then file a dispute form. In my experience this solves things immediately. Otherwise I will listen to the audio only, but I'd be happy to follow the video!

-pianovirus

P.S. If you ever come to Southern Germany for a recital, please let me know!!

Too bad!  I did what you said and filed a dispute form, clicking that I was the owner of the original content.  Hope that was right. 
anyways, i used to live in southern germany, in munich, where i studied privately for a few years.  I've played all over the place, but haven't been in germany since 2006!

[andhow04]

This is my kind of Bach.  Such a beautiful touch - crystal clear - with expert use of the pedal.  And in that church it must not have been easy.  In fact, maybe you didn't pedal at all?
This is monumental masterpiece I look up to and really hope to perform one day.  I've studied them all but the technical obstacles are overwhelming.  In particular the crossing over of the voices.  If only the piano had 2 keyboards.  I bet it's been invented. 
You play with such poise and dignity.  Just what this music necessitates.

i appreciate your very generous comments... the hand crossings are difficult, but in some places i used a rearrangement inspired by the Kirkpatrick edition, esp. in the last few bars of variation 11, and a couple other places (var. 23 i did a bit at the alternating sixths towards the end).  there actually is an american pianist who is touring now with a specially-designed steinway with two manuals, his name is christopher taylor.  i haven't heard the instrument but heard about the project.
thanks again