Bach: Goldberg Variations on Guitar / Salcito

$18.99
Label
Dynamic
Release Date
July 29, 2014
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      BACH, J.S.
    • PERFORMER
      Marco Salcito
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      July 29, 2014
    • UPC
      8007144076993
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      DYN-CDS7699
    • LABEL
      Dynamic
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Instrumental
    Works ⌄

    1. Aria

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    2. Variatio 1. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    3. Variatio 2. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    4. Variatio 3. Canone all'Unisuono a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    5. Variatio 4. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    6. Variatio 5. a 1 o vero 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    7. Variatio 6. Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    8. Variatio 7. a 1 o vero 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    9. Variatio 8. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    10. Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    11. Variatio 10. Fughetta. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    12. Variatio 11. a Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    13. Variatio 12. Canone alla Quarta. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    14. Variatio 13. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    15. Variatio 14. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    16. Variatio 15. Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    17. Variatio 16. Ouverture. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    18. Variatio 17. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    19. Variatio 18. Canone alla Sexta. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    20. Variatio 19. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    21. Variatio 20. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    22. Variatio 21. Canone alla Settima. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    23. Variatio 22. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    24. Variatio 23. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    25. Variatio 24. Canone all'Ottava. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    26. Variatio 25. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    27. Variatio 26. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    28. Variatio 27. Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    29. Variatio 28. a 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    30. Variatio 29. a 1 o vero 2 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    31. Variatio 30. Quodlibet. a 1 Clav.

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito

    32. Aria da capo

      Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performer: Marco Salcito


Unlike many Bach works adapted for guitar, the keyboard-specific intricacies of the Goldberg Variations do not easily lend themselves to six strings. In the late 1990s Kurt Rodarmer circumvented these limitations via overdubbing and using a custom-made guitar with an extended bass register. He also transposed the piece to D major, a key that lies more comfortably for guitar than the original G major. By contrast, József Eötvös’ contemporaneous solo transcription adhered to the original key and contained all of the music within a solo guitar’s six string range, albeit necessitating slower tempos, contrapuntal compromises, and frequent transpositions of lines up or down the octave.

Marco Salcito shares Eötvös’ essentially purist conception, although he is less shy to incorporate idiomatic flourishes and articulations that guitarists love, such as rolling chords, and sliding or bending into and between notes. He does this extensively when repeating each variation’s “A” and “B” sections, yet the fanciful embellishments enhance rather than obliterate Bach’s melodic lines. In addition, Salcito’s recasting of the scintillating cross-handed variations in more deliberate, guitar-oriented terms is not unlike watching rapid basketball moves played back in slow motion: you lose the dance but you gain the details.

A good example of this is Variation 26’s triplet figurations that ordinarily sprint up and down the keyboard. When slowed down, previously overlooked inner melodies emerge. Granted, the combination of the guitar’s limited dynamic range, Salcito’s leisurely pace, and his observance of all repeats save for the Aria da capo might make this nearly two-hour-long interpretation seem interminable over the course of a single hearing. Yet Salcito’s quiet, compelling mastery and eloquent musicianship, together with Dynamic’s intimate, full-bodied engineering, will win over guitar enthusiasts, and perhaps seduce a few Bach fans as well.

– Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com