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Baroque · variations

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 22

Johann Sebastian Bach · Level 7, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

A fantasia within one great variation cycle. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 22 is a variations by Johann Sebastian Bach from the Baroque era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 7, an estimate.

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Also known as Goldberg Variations - 22.

History

Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 22 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 fantasia.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. An inner line above long bass steps

    An inner entry begins above long descending bass support while the upper voices wait. Listen for that moving strand without assuming the highest staff begins the melody.

  2. Upper entries gradually fill the texture

    One upper strand joins before the other, with long notes and shorter replies. Hear the entries accumulate above the continuing lower voices.

  3. The second half staggers its entries

    The second half starts an upper entry, then adds the other strands at different points. Follow the offsets instead of giving every voice the same starting accent.

  4. Delayed replies find the final arrival

    Late inner replies continue beneath the longer upper line as the bass leads toward the final G support. Hear the strands keep their own motion through the close.

How to practise it

Upper entrance waits; earlier line ties across shorter movement.

  1. Count the upper waiting period while listening to earlier source voices.
  2. Follow that earlier line across its tie without creating an extra attack.

How hard is it

Level 7, estimated

Alla-breve contrapuntal writing needs long-line direction and balanced voices rather than uniform chordal emphasis.

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 - 22” by J. S. Bach (1685 to 1750). Mutopia edition maintained by Hajo Dezelski. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=1417. 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

Upper entrance waits; earlier line ties across shorter movement.

Practise it in PlayPiano