' Variatio 5 a 1 Ovvero 2 Clav.' - 1:05.Track listing All compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach As a result, we are left with a technically adept, sometimes aimless, intelligently conceived, ultimately not very moving or exhilarating rendition of the music - a confirmation of Jarrett's keyboard prowess for his fans, but not much in the way of competition for the brass ring among Goldbergs'. The added ornamentation seems to be random and so are his observance of the repeats he only does so in ten of the variations. He's not in any hurry, not tempted to showboat or flaunt his considerable technique - and in no way does this jazz pianist try to make the variations swing a la Jacques Loussier. Ginell awarded the album 3 stars noting 'Keith Jarrett is up against an imposing legacy as he tackles what has become the most famous set of variations in Western music. Papastefanou does offer an emotional intensity that may appeal to many, if they are willing to compromise on less than ideal recorded sound.The Allmusic review by Richard S. Out of these two Goldbergs, Minnaar better holds this masterpiece together as a complete whole, and will reveal itself more on repeated listening. I havenвЂ™t decided if the occasional emphasis on the left hand is attributed to the pianism, recording, or the instrument вЂ“ a Chris Maene straight strung piano. The recording in this case is excellent, highlighting every articulation and dynamic change. I particularly liked MinnaarвЂ™s way of differentiating between styles of variations вЂ“ Variations 17 and 18 sound remarkably different yet related, as they should вЂ“ and the care with which he treats each short and long notes. At 9вЂ™12вЂќ the вЂњblack pearlвЂќ variation is on the slow side but is impressively cohesive, certainly not as dragged as in Lang LangвЂ™s recent rendition. His ornamentations are more subtle on repeats and although he plays some of the variations faster than Papastefanou, they never sound capricious. ThereвЂ™s a quiet sense of occasion in MinnaarвЂ™s opening aria and following variations. Hannes Minnaar showed impressive advocacy for romantic piano transcriptions to Bach, in his вЂњBach InspirationsвЂќ album of 2013, so in this case he is вЂњback to basicsвЂќ if you will, playing the original score along with a contemporary piece, Daan MannekeвЂ™s вЂњGedanken zu BachвЂќ. This is, in short, one of the great recordings of Bachs 'Goldberg' Variations. The way he varies Bachs moods from moment to moment is extremely effective. An enjoyable Goldberg Variations nonetheless. His playing of the famous 25th variation is deeply affecting without the faintest trace of sentimentality. It was a genre of music into which he had never before ventured, thinking variations almost a form of musical вЂsheep countingвЂ™ (in the most respectful sense) and thus perfect for an insomniac. When Bach heard of the plight of GoldbergвЂ™s boss, he penned the work.

The recording quality is decent but not great вЂ“ compared to PapastefanouвЂ™s previous Bach recordings, the piano sound lost its edge, and in the fast variations sounds a bit muffled. BachвЂ™s reputation as a fine composer reached the ears of Kaiserling, so Goldberg was sent to him to be well tutored. The famous recording was done by Glenn Gould. There are Aria, 30 variations, & another Aria at the end. And although the entire performance is flowing naturally, the transition from the вЂњblack pearlвЂќ variation to variation No. The 'Goldberg Variations' was composed by a German composer, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) from the Baroque era. The addition of bass notes to the final bars of the Aria da capo, reminiscent of score manipulations done by Wanda Landowska, is lost on me. The ornamentations on repeats are very interesting, yet they sometimes get in the way of the melody, as in the fast variation No.

At times, though, Papastefanou can be very deliberate when trying to incorporate declamatory style, such as in the вЂњFughettaвЂќ of variation No. There is a sense of spontaneity throughout, not coming out of recklessness, but out of intimate familiarity with the music. This is not a вЂњclinicalвЂќ Bach, nor is it philosophical or cold-hearted.

Bach goldberg variations