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This transcription of the Goldberg Variations for bassoon ensemble was premiered to great acclaim at the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History in Frankfurt in May 2013, and it has been frequently performed since then. As at the original performance, this premiere recording features teachers, students and former members of the bassoon class of Professor Henrik Rabien at the Frankfurt College of Music and Arts. The many challenges presented by this special project in terms of musical understanding, technique and coordination were offset by the motivation of the musicians, who were excited by the prospect of performing one of J.S. Bach's most compelling masterpieces as subtly "orchestrated" chamber music, as well as by the opportunity to develop and refine the ensemble and eventually to record the fruits of their combined efforts. Additionally, there was the universal and highly motivating power of J.S. Bach's musical cosmos, which embodies the principle of variety in unity to the ultimate degree. We would be delighted if our version of the Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) were to arouse interest in the various qualities of the bassoon and contrabassoon. It does after all provide the opportunity to experience their manifold tone colours and registers in their full multiplicity. |
