Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” BWV 988, a four-part online class Jan. 11-Feb. 1 – Trevor Stephenson, instructor

J. S. Bach
Goldberg Variations
Aria and Thirty Variations for Double-Manual Harpsichord, BWV 988

4 Classes – Trevor Stephenson, instructor
January 11, 18, 25, and February 1
Monday evenings from 6-7 pm via Zoom

Enrollment for the class limited to 30 participants
Fee is $100 for the four-part course, $30/class for à la carte sign ups.
Contact Trevor Stephenson at trevor@trevorstephenson.com to enroll

Four days before each class, participants will receive a link to Trevor’s HD video recording-performance of the material for that week and a PDF score clearly marked with the fingerings used in the video recording.

Topics of class discussion

The Aria: character, origins, phrase and harmonic structure
Overarching structure of the 30 variations: how Bach achieves variety, unity, and dramatic flow
The spiritual odyssey of the set
Use of Arioso, Toccata, Overture, Quodlibet, and Canonic compositional techniques
Comparison of the nine canonic variations–3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, and 27
History of Quodlibet technique, folk melodies used in the GV Quodlibet
Significance of the Aria’s return at the work’s end

Designation and set-up of the double-manual harpsichord
Finding a good temperament (tuning) and pitch level for the work
Approaches to fingering and articulation
Selecting tempos for each variation
Uses of rubato and agogic accents
Playing the work on the piano, organ, and in instrumental arrangements
The additional 14 canons Bach composed after the GV publications
Reception and performance history

Week 1, January 11:  Aria and Variations 1-6
Week 2, January 18:  Variations 7-15
Week 3, January 25:  Variations 16-24
Week 4, February 1:  Variations 25-30; reprise of the Aria