PlayPiano

Baroque · variations

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 16

Johann Sebastian Bach · Level 8, estimated · With Maestro

Practise it in PlayPiano

The short answer

A French-style overture within one great variation cycle. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 16 is a variations by Johann Sebastian Bach from the Baroque era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 8, an estimate.

On this page
  • variations
  • Baroque
  • grand

Also known as Goldberg Variations - 16.

History

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 16 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 French-style overture.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A flourish leads into dotted gestures

    A short upper flourish rises after the opening chord, then dotted and ornamented gestures continue. Hear the smaller runs as part of the broader opening line.

  2. The lower line gives a related answer

    The lower line takes up a related run and dotted response while the upper material continues. Listen for the dialogue across registers.

  3. Shorter groups change the texture

    The source changes to 3/8 and introduces shorter interlocking entries. Hear the new grouping and exchange rather than carrying the broad opening gestures through unchanged.

  4. Lower entries join the closing exchange

    Lower running replies join the upper exchange later in the second region. Hear the added movement before the distinct repeat and final endings; the last held sonority belongs to the closing branch.

How to practise it

Fast ascent into a longer high point; unequal long-short descent after the ascent.

  1. Practise the ascent slowly, hearing 79 as the destination and avoiding an extra pause before it.
  2. Count the two longer notes fully and let each short note lead onward rather than equalising the four lengths.

How hard is it

Level 8, estimated

Contrasting overture gestures and the quicker imitative continuation require different articulation and pulse treatment.

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 - 16” by J. S. Bach (1685 to 1750). Mutopia edition maintained by Hajo Dezelski. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=1413. 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

Fast ascent into a longer high point; unequal long-short descent after the ascent.

Practise it in PlayPiano