PlayPiano

Baroque · variations

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 10

Johann Sebastian Bach · Level 7, estimated · With Maestro

Practise it in PlayPiano

The short answer

A fughetta within one great variation cycle. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 10 is a variations by Johann Sebastian Bach from the Baroque era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 7, an estimate.

On this page
  • variations
  • Baroque
  • grand

Also known as Goldberg Variations - 10.

History

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 10 belongs to the Goldberg Variations. Bach-Archiv Leipzig places the cycle at the culmination of Bach's Clavier-Übung print project in 1741. The thirty variations explore a remarkable range of keyboard forms and contrapuntal designs: this selection is one part of that larger journey. In its account, Bach-Archiv describes this particular variation as a fughetta.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. The first idea starts below

    The lower opening begins with an ornamented long note and related quarter-note gestures while the other strands wait. Hear its shape clearly before the later entries join.

  2. Another low strand answers

    A second lower strand enters with a related ornamented long-note gesture above the continuing low line. Listen for the new entry without losing the first strand.

  3. The idea reaches the upper register

    The upper voices enter later with related shapes while lower lines continue. Follow the familiar gesture as the texture becomes more layered.

  4. Entries overlap in the second half

    The second half places the related entries at different points across upper and lower strands. Hear each new arrival within the continuing motion rather than expecting all voices together.

How to practise it

First active line is low in source; other source voices remain silent initially.

  1. Practise the plain duration outline first and add its ornament without overaccenting the phrase.
  2. Listen for the earlier line and count the upper silence rather than assuming the highest staff begins the theme.

How hard is it

Level 7, estimated

Fughetta texture requires clear entries, sustained contrapuntal attention and differentiated articulation.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Johann Sebastian Bach, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Collection
Themes transformed
Licence
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0
Source
mutopiaproject.org
Credit
“Goldberg Variations - 10” by J. S. Bach (1685 to 1750). Mutopia edition maintained by Hajo Dezelski. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=1387. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. Changes to the supplied MIDI: none; disclose any later conversion or edit separately.

More by Johann Sebastian Bach

  1. Prelude in C major, BWV 846Level 4, estimatedOpen to everyone
  2. Two-Part Invention No. 1 in C major, BWV 772Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
  3. Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971: III. PrestoLevel 9, estimatedWith Maestro

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

First active line is low in source; other source voices remain silent initially.

Practise it in PlayPiano