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The short answer
One part of a keyboard project that culminated in 1741. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 4 is a variations by Johann Sebastian Bach from the Baroque era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 7, an estimate.
- variations
- Baroque
- dancing
Also known as Goldberg Variations - 4.
History
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 4 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
Brief entries above a long foundation
A rest-led upper gesture is followed by short replies in the other strands. Notice those entrances against the longer bass support.
Small entries build a fuller texture
Alternating rests and brief entries accumulate into overlapping held and moving sounds. Listen for the texture to grow without making every entrance equally heavy.
A changed opening with familiar replies
The second half starts a new short upper entry above changed long bass notes. Recognise the answering texture even as its pitch level changes.
The closing alternatives are distinct
The lower voices have different repeat and final responses. Hear how the continuing ending differs from the one that settles the repeated region.
How to practise it
Short entry becoming a tie; later second-voice entry.
- Distinguish the short attacks from the later held note and release.
- Count the second-line silence and prepare its entry without a new accent.
How hard is it
Imitative exchanges and short articulations need rhythmic buoyancy and clean coordination.
About this piece
- Collection
- Themes transformed
- Licence
- Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0
- Source
- mutopiaproject.org
- Credit
- “Goldberg Variations - 4” by J. S. Bach (1685 to 1750). Mutopia edition maintained by Hajo Dezelski. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=1405. 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
- Prelude in C major, BWV 846Level 4, estimatedOpen to everyone
- Two-Part Invention No. 1 in C major, BWV 772Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
- Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971: III. PrestoLevel 9, estimatedWith Maestro
