Goldberg Variations — Aria

J. S. BachBWV 988

Key

G

Time

3/4

Tempo

♩=60

AO focus

AO3

Form

Aria — opening movement of the Goldberg Variations. A stately Sarabande in G major, 32 bars, the bass line of which generates the 30 variations that follow. The piece returns at the end (the 'da capo Aria') to close the cycle.

Teaching points

• Sarabande — slow triple-metre dance, characteristic emphasis on beat 2
• Bass-line variations — only the 32-bar bass progression is preserved across the 30 variations; the upper voices vary wildly
• AO3: the foundation of the entire Goldberg cycle — internalise this aria first, then approach Variation 1
• AO1: a Grade 7-8 keyboard standard. Playable on harpsichord, piano, organ — Bach didn't specify