PlayPiano

Baroque · variations

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 19

Johann Sebastian Bach · Level 6, estimated · With Maestro

Practise it in PlayPiano

The short answer

One part of a keyboard project that culminated in 1741. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 19 is a variations by Johann Sebastian Bach from the Baroque era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 6, an estimate.

On this page
  • variations
  • Baroque
  • dancing

Also known as Goldberg Variations - 19.

History

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 19 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.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A running inner figure under a held top

    Repeated and tied upper D sounds accompany an inner moving cell. Listen inside the texture rather than following only the highest note.

  2. The top strand takes the moving cell

    The soprano begins to run while the inner strand supplies repeated and tied support. Hear the same kind of motion in a different layer.

  3. The new half exchanges the roles again

    Soprano running cells begin the second half, then held upper sounds accompany the inner running return. Follow the change of roles through the phrase.

  4. The upper motion closes above a held bass

    The soprano resumes connected cells over held inner support and lower steps. Hear the moving line reach its close above the final low G.

How to practise it

Repeated tied upper tone; active second voice.

  1. Practise the repeated tied tone while counting the later change to shorter attacks.
  2. Rehearse the two source voices separately, then retain their contrasting rates together.

How hard is it

Level 6, estimated

A light dance texture still requires clear inner-line balance and consistent short-note 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 - 19” by J. S. Bach (1685 to 1750). Mutopia edition maintained by Hajo Dezelski. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=1415. 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

Repeated tied upper tone; active second voice.

Practise it in PlayPiano