Performer

Jorge Jiménez - baroque violin

Programme

Johann Sebastian Bach -  The Goldberg Variations*

BWV 988 (1744)

* arranged for Solo Violin by Jorge Jiménez

Aria

Variatio 1: a 1 Clav.

Variatio 2: a 1 Clav.

Variatio 3: Canone all'Unisono. a 1 Clav.

Variatio 4: a 1 Clav.

Variatio 5: a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.

Variatio 6: Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav.

Variatio 7: a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. Al tempo di Giga 

Variatio 8: a 2 Clav.

Variatio 9: Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav.

Variatio 10: Fughetta. a 1 Clav.

Variatio 11: a 2 Clav.

Variatio 12: Canone alla Quarta. a 1 Clav. 

Variatio 13: a 2 Clav.

Variatio 14: a 2 Clav.

Variatio 15: Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav. Andante 

Variatio 16: Ouverture. a 1 Clav.

Variatio 17: a 2 Clav.

Variatio 18: Canone alla Sesta. a 1 Clav.

Variatio 19: a 1 Clav.

Variatio 20: a 2 Clav.

Variatio 21: Canone alla Settima. a 1 Clav.

Variatio 22: a 1 Clav. alla breve

Variatio 23: a 2 Clav.

Variatio 24: Canone all'Ottava. a 1 Clav.

Variatio 25: a 2 Clav. Adagio

Variatio 26: a 2 Clav.

Variatio 27: Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav.

Variatio 28: a 2 Clav.

Variatio 29: a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.

Variatio 30: Quodlibet. a 1 Clav.

Aria da Capo

Programme Notes

The urban myth says that J.S. Bach composed his GOLDBERG VARIATIONS to ease the nights of insomnia of one of his patrons: Count Keyserlingk. Still unsure whether this account is totally true or not, the hypnotic nature of the Goldberg Variations is a fact. Jimenez has arranged and recomposed this monumental work of art for unaccompanied violin.

The Goldberg Variations aren’t just any set of variations on a theme, they are variations by the 'God of Harmony', Johann Sebastian Bach. The complexity of the architecture of these pieces is such that just arranging them wasn't enough to suit the violin so Jorge has resized them.

Imagine trying to fit all the furniture of Versailles Palace into a beautiful, tiny one-bedroom attic in Rue Lafayette: one would have to choose the best and aim to keep the same feel of the big space in a tiny one.

Fortunately lots of compositions by Bach adapt brilliantly to any instrument, but these variations are extremely complex, even more complex in depth than the Kunst Der Fugue. Jiménez has rearranged, almost recomposed them, in the style that lots of popular works were arranged during this period, to fit the different needs of performers and audience.

This transcription of Bach's Goldberg Variations is the completion of a 2 year long project in which the piece has toured Poland, Spain and the UK and culminating in the first ever recording of the Goldbergs in this groundbreaking arrangement for solo violin.