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SCDV148701
2:23
Dance-like, steady opening aria in triple meter, with focus placed more on harmonic richness than on a prominent melodic line. 42-45 bpm
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SCDV148704
1:10
Buoyant, bright movement with a steady pulse; including intricate hand-crossing and articulated bass. 86-88 bpm
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SCDV148707
0:50
Positive and poised variation with contrapuntal three-part texture: two voices interweaving over a persistent walking bass. 81-83 bpm
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SCDV148710
1:12
Gentle, melodic canon at the unison where the second voice repeats the subject precisely at the same pitch; the first of the nine canons, often described as the 'Two Shepherds'. 55-56 bpm
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SCDV148713
1:13
Lighthearted, bustling variation written in four voices and 3/8 time, often described as the 'Shepherd's Dance'. 53-55 bpm
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SCDV148716
0:44
Brilliant, rapid showpiece with acrobatic hand-crossing and strong rhythmic articulation, performed without ever pausing for breath. 138-140 bpm
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SCDV148719
1:10
Flowing, intimate canon, where the following voice begins a whole step (two semitones) higher; built on harmonic suspensions, creating a sigh-like effect, with interplay between the two hands. 177-180 bpm
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SCDV148722
1:26
Charming gigue (lively dance) with vibrant ornaments and dotted rhythms creating a lilting sway in 6/8 time, performed in a poised, elegant manner. 46-48 bpm
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SCDV148725
1:04
Joyful, gallant toccata-style piece performed with a determined, detached touch and long-short rhythmic character. 187-191 bpm
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SCDV148728
2:04
Heartfelt and melancholic lyrical canon featuring the second voice following the first a third below, and an independently flowing bassline. 64-66 bpm
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SCDV148731
2:18
Declamatory, steady four-part fughetta with voices imitating each other tightly, featuring playful trills. 59-60 bpm
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SCDV148734
1:03
Bright yet delicate toccata featuring flowing, overlapping scales demanding extensive hand-crossing that create a complex interplay of the melodic lines. 81-100 bpm
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SCDV148737
1:17
Dynamic canon where the following voice mirrors the theme (in contrary motion), demonstrating Bach's meticulous mathematical precision. 78-80 bpm
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SCDV148740
2:33
Contemplative, expressive sarabande in 3/4 time, with gentle syncopation; known as the 'Venus' variation due to its emotional depth (rubato). 65-86 bpm
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SCDV148743
1:13
Brilliant and virtuosic, featuring rippling trills and arpeggios, with energetic decorative elements adding a playful character. 165-175 bpm
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SCDV148746
2:48
Hauntingly beautiful, melancholic andante canon; the upper melodic line is imitated in the lower voice in contrary motion, a fifth apart. 45-50 bpm
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SCDV148749
1:33
Majestic and dramatic French-style overture marking the middle of the Goldberg Variations, featuring slow, dotted rhythms contrasted by fast fugal runs, and florid embellishments. 55-110 bpm
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SCDV148752
1:05
Ecstatic and technically complex two-part passages with tangled hand-crossing, and filled with Bach's typical musical invention. 88-93 bpm
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SCDV148755
1:45
Bright canon with two voices playing at the interval of the sixth; insistent and tightly woven. 69-76 bpm
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SCDV148758
2:35
Light, elegant three-part variation with the gentle dance-like feel of a minuet. 76-79 bpm
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SCDV148761
1:11
Uptempo, cheerful variation in 3/4 time featuring rapid running passages placed on the weak beats, creating a syncopated feel; technically advanced and known as the 'Doves'. 165-169 bpm
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SCDV148764
1:59
Profound lamenting canon at the seventh, filled with chromatic steps adding to a painful emotional character.
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SCDV148767
1:47
Stately four-part piece in 2/2 time with dense imitations between the voices providing a conversational feel (rubato). 64-70 bpm
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SCDV148770
1:17
Sparkling, happy interplay of voices requiring high technical precision, featuring rapid parallel thirds and brisk hand-crossing. 75-78 bpm
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SCDV148773
1:34
Delicate, sweet and softly swaying canon where the leading voice is imitated an octave below. 67-70 bpm
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SCDV148776
5:03
Slow, deeply emotional minor variation also known as the 'Black Pearl', and a piece modern for its time for the tonal ambiguities (rubato). 40-46 bpm
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SCDV148779
1:04
Exciting variation bursting with energy and featuring virtuosic passage-work and intricate hand-crossing. 96-100 bpm
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SCDV148782
1:08
Lively two-part variation without a bassline. The final canon of the series, where the imitating voice occurs 'at the ninth' interval. 90-98 bpm
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SCDV148785
1:20
Shimmering, brisk and spirited, featuring repeated trills and high energy. 148-152 bpm
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SCDV148788
1:19
Vibrant virtuosic showpiece featuring dense chords and powerful passage runs. 144-160 bpm
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SCDV148791
1:17
Calm yet communal variation known as the 'Quodlibet', referring to its combination of melodies from two folk songs: 'Kraut und Rueben haben mich vertrieben' and 'Ich bin nicht bei Dir g'west' ('Cabbage and turnips have driven me away' and 'I have long been away from thee'). 52-60 bpm
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SCDV148794
1:20
Peaceful and elegant return of the opening theme, featuring the singing melody, a tender harmonic pulse and subtle ornamentation; marking the end, it is often interpreted as a new beginning. 39-45 bpm