GOLDBERG VARIATIONS

Variation

Description and comments

Suggested tempo

27

Canon at the 9th,

two-part invention style

[crotchet]. = 48
([quaver] = 144)

French gigue in 6/8, dotted

rhythms, finger precision, ornaments

[crotchet]. = 64
([quaver] = 192)

19

Three voices, short, a little

faster than a minuet in
3/8 corrente style

[crotchet]. = 48
([quaver] = 144)

22

Short fughetta with four

voices, mostly legato

[micron] = 84

18

Canon at the 6th with three voices

texture, fast bourree style,
non-legato quarter notes

[micron] = 96

10

Short fughetta with three and

sometimes four voices, mostly legato

[micron] = 72

11

Two-part invention, 12/16 gigue style

but more introverted than
extroverted, some octave
transpositions recommended on piano

[crotchet]. = 96

Canon at the 3rd with three

voices, mostly legato

[crotchet] = 72

Trio style with duet in right hand

and continuo-style
accompaniment in left hand

[crotchet] = 72

Aria

Expressive sarabande style,

ornaments, some pedal recommended

[crotchet] = 54

Canon at the 2nd in a moderate

3/8 gigue style, awkward right hand

[crotchet]. = 48
([quaver] = 144)

Imitative four-voice texture in

3/8 passepied style, very short,
staccato or non-legato eighth notes

[crotchet]. = 56
([quaver] = 168)

Two voices, excellent

introduction to hand crossings

[crotchet] = 84

30

Four-voice hymn-style texture,

mostly legato, some pedal recommended

[crotchet] = 72

Two voices, energetic and

extroverted, some challenging
hand crossings

[crotchet] = 96

Two voices in fast corrente style,

fastest quarter-note speed of
all the 3/4 variations

[crotchet] = 108

17

Two voices with constant 16th

note motion, some octave
transpositions recommended
on piano

[crotchet] = 84

Variation

Description and comments

Suggested tempo

16

French overture style in two

sections, three-voice fughetta
in 3/8 section

[crotchet] = 63;
[crotchet]. = 56

21

Highly expressive canon at the

7th with three voices,
adagio style, some pedal
recommended

[crotchet] = 42

23

Two voices, exciting and

energetic display between
the hands, staccato 16ths

[crotchet] = 72

13

Highly expressive sarabande

style, some pedal recommended

[crotchet] = 42

25

Slowest and most mystical of

all variations, the only
variation whose quarter note
is truly subdivided,
some pedal recommended

[quaver] = 63

Canon at the unison,

three voices, non-legato eighths

[crotchet]. = 56
([quaver] = 168)

14

Two voices, virtuosic

display between the hands

[crotchet] = 84

12

Canon at the fourth with

three voices in polonaise style,
the most awkward to play and
un-pianistic of all the variations

[crotchet] = 72

24

Canon at the octave with

three voices, 9/8 pastoral
gigue style, more extroverted
than introverted with a robust
and full tone, legato eighths

[crotchet]. = 72

26

Moderately paced sarabande

with hand crossings, prominent
melody with light
and airy accompaniment

[crotchet] = 63

29

Brilliant and energetic

featuring triplet 16ths, climax
and dynamic highpoint
of the Goldbergs

[crotchet] = 84

15

Highly expressive canon

at the 5th with three voices,
two-note slurs, some pedal
recommended, andante but not
adagio (Bach's own indication)

[crotchet] = 36
([quaver]) = 72)

20

Brilliant and energetic

featuring triplet 16ths,
hand crossings

[crotchet] = 84

28

Probably the most difficult

of all variations, trill etude

[crotchet] = 72