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Aria – Goldberg Variations – BWV 988

Character, clarity and a recognisable musical line.

An accessible arrangement that preserves the identity of an essential work.

Arranged and performed by David de Miguel · Easy–intermediate levelJohann Sebastian Bach

Aria – Goldberg Variations – BWV 988

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Context1741

LevelEasy–intermediate level

InstrumentPiano solo

EditionFingering · articulation

THE SCORE

A clear edition for playing with intention.

The score uses spacious notation, suggested fingering and clearly visible expressive marks, so that technical work always serves the character of the music.

Clearly separated layersMelody and accompaniment remain easy to distinguish.
Suggested fingeringGuidance for changes of position.
Readable articulationSlurs and attacks help shape each motif.
Visible expressionDynamics and hairpins guide the arc of the phrase.

MUSICAL CONTEXT

The story behind the music.

Bach published the Aria and its thirty variations as the fourth part of his Clavier-Übung, an ambitious collection of keyboard music. The variations are based not primarily on the melody, but on the harmonic framework beneath it. At the end, the Aria returns unchanged, transformed by everything that has been heard.

AT THE PIANO

Three ideas to work on.

Work first on the pulse, then the balance, and finally the complete direction of the phrase.

A steady pulse.

Practise slowly and keep a regular inner beat before increasing the tempo.

Balanced voices.

Bring out the principal line while keeping the accompaniment flexible and secondary.

A directed phrase.

Join motifs into long arcs and use dynamics to lead each arrival.

FORMATS

This piece on its own or as part of the complete collection.

Choose the individual edition if you are looking for Aria – Goldberg Variations – BWV 988; discover the book to explore twenty works by Bach, with context and recordings.

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