NPR: The Goldberg Variations with Jeremy Denk: Aria

Pianist Jeremy Denk walks us through the Aria of Bach's Goldberg Variations.
Read his blog post here:
Hannibal Lecter's Guide To The 'Goldberg Variations'
www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecad...
Producers: Mito Habe-Evans, Tom Huizenga
Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait
Production Assistance by: Anastasia Tsioulcas, Amanda Ameer

[@jean-luclaffineur3029]

Thank you Jeremy. This Aria has been my obsession since my childhood. its structure and melody make it a divine balance between maths and art, science and nature. The whole life is in there. I play this Aria to better understand existence and to better prepare to death.

[@dardino6529]

Nothing more healing for the soul after a bad day than to come home, sit at the piano and play this. If you're currently learning and struggling with it, keep going because you'll have a wonderful tool to combat depression for the rest of your life when you get there and there are so many ways to interpret it.

[@izhan6991]

David Andrews i won't lie, this aria Depressed me when I first listened to it.

[@steviejd5803]

Hey thanks, I’m teaching myself to play this beautiful aria. So far I’ve spent about three years learning it. But I couldn’t play a note when I started. I just knew I wanted to play this music at some point in my life. I can just about get through it now and make a semi decent show. I’ll keep going and, as you say, I feel such joy when I master a new bar or trill, or just get to the next bar without stopping. I’m enthused today ax much ax I ever was that first day my new Roland digital piano arrived at my house.

[@ukaszk.8305]

This, and the cat. Stroking the cat...

[@dpclerks09]

The Divine Manifested through Harmony 🙏

[@shiraflowers5882]

I am reading and loving Jeremy Denk's memoir Every Good Boy Does Fine. Watching this video is a lovely companion to reading the book. Truly appreciating Denk's passionate, funny writing about loving and making music. Bravo!

[@pedromorala4074]

Thank you for sharing this exceptional masterclass. Feel happy seeing this video and like to see Denk having fun and smiling as he explains this wonderful piece.

[@TheIndySunset]

I've always felt the works of J.S. Bach were beautifully written poems. This explains why I felt that way. This makes me want to learn music theory! Thanks for the explanation and the beautiful play.

[@annjeanmillikan]

Phenomenal, Jeremy Denk is both musically healing and engages beautifully in the gorgeous tones of this Bach Aria!

[@FordElement]

I'm happy I stumbled across the NPRMusic channel. Great exposure to artists new to me, wonderful performances, and a good breakdown of a Classical piece. Thanks!

[@couchphotography8861]

Just started learning this, and it is not easy!! But Jeremy makes it look that way! This is really gorgeous, and so soulful! Thankyou!

[@EstelaGiargei]

Jeremy I had the pleasure to meet you in person during your Well Tempered Clavier performance in Houston recently and you are such a nice person and magnificent artist. I am trying to tackle this Aria so this video comes at the perfect time. Thank you! And thanks for autographing my copy of your book!

[@steviejd5803]

Thank you for your insight. I'm just embarking on this piece myself.

[@tatianabermanofficial]

BEAUTIFUL

[@mariacasemyr]

Very beautiful! Thank you! ❤️

[@lennybellafiore1503]

Wonderfully insightful. You’ve sent me on a new journey. Soli Bach Gloria.

[@steviejd5803]

I'm only starting on my piano adventure, and all thanks to Bach. This Aria is my life goal. Thank you for your beautiful exposition. I wish you were my piano teacher; your passion and beauty shine through effortlessly.

[@alemirez]

Same here! I wish this could be the first song I'll learn to play. Very difficult, I know. Good luck, I hope we'll both know how to play it one day :)

[@steviejd5803]

+Andrea Wéberová Hi Andrea, I'm making slow progress and enjoying every moment. I hope you too enjoy the wonderful journey of Bach's music.

[@alemirez]

+StevieJ D Well, since I've been learning notes and more about playing only for three days, I'm really just at the beginning. But I'm happy for you, keep up the good work :)

[@tremoverb1]

This is my goal too!

[@steviejd5803]

3 years ago!!! I’ve not given up or at any point felt like I wouldn’t achieve my goal. I’ve made continuous progress and I’m still learning.

[@dralphr]

Fantastic.

[@gtimny]

Sir Donald Francis Tovey - The Goldberg Variations: An Essay in Musical Analysis

[@EuphoricImpact]

Great post thanks.

[@pinganren2672]

What a great video. I love this Aria. Finally learned it a month ago. It took me 3 weeks. I am an amateur.

[@rustythecat2163]

Be pleased with yourself! I congratulate you, keep going.

[@_brrr]

A three-parter? Oh man you guys are spoiling us.

[@xAnescox]

yo aprendí a tocar eso de memoria, nunca lo aprendí bien. me alegro de haber encontrado este video. :D excelente!

[@Erickvazquezc]

Thanks

[@francescaemc2]

Thank you!!!!!!!

[@MichaelCWBell]

Musical analysis is fun and fine e.g. the last of the descending 5th is placed over the 8ve, etc. But there’s a book that will never be written that devotes itself to music as instinct; of pure “sense”; “you do it that way because it’s (more) beautiful that way. It won’t be written because it’s too hard to put into words. A musician that can create an adornment as beautiful as this to what was a prosaic Handelian passacaglia is so exceptionally rare. And that was J.S. Bach; he did it again and again and I just can’t believe it happened any more easily now than when I first heard the opening passage of St Matthew Passion.

[@mariahc.crawley884]

Watch UNTILLLL The End! Past the end of the credots for bonus clips!

[@Busillis67]

Great: thanks Maestro! Anybody knows the author and title of the book read at 6:20?

[@donovanyha]

NPR thanks

[@jeffreyrk]

the author is definitely Donald Francis Tovey

[@胡]

Do one for each variation pls😂

[@FFS704]

can anyone help with the author (book title) of the quote Jeremy read please?

[@tallisrocktube]

Jeremy thank you for playing the Aria at it's correct tempo..everybody else plays it way too slow! This isn't music from the romantic period !

[@TheHenryStark]

Can someone please, tell me what book was he reading at the end? I'd love to read it too.

[@theresekilpatrick9888]

Donald Francis Tovey (I only could find Chamber Music Selections from Essays in Musical Analysis) worth investigating if you are interested in analysis of Bach.

[@tvine1]

Mr Denk, why do start your mordents on the weak, anticipatory beat so that the 3rd note of the mordent falls on the strong beat ?

[@paxwallace8324]

Bach was so much more harmonically advanced than all of his contemporaries including Handle and Vivaldi it's not funny. So many have gone to great lengths to highlight this fact including Gould, and Bernstein, the list goes on and on.

[@Jauhara]

Damn. I must be tired because I read this as The Jonah Goldberg Dank meme variations.

[@inesdeerausquin5658]

Thank you for that laugh.

[@daffyduck4195]

My gosh. You're in your pajamas??

[@chad4149]

he doesn t really make the piano cantabile.I think all this head shaking is taking away the music.Im not in a hurry to hear him again.

[@mcculloughdakota]

Or maybe he's enjoying it for what it is and not taking it so stoically.

[@colski3333]

Let’s hear your version chad

[@sanjosemike3137]

I can play this as well. But all I have to do is put my phone down and not watch the video. Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)

[@antnfs]

Knowledgeable, talented, expressive, and way too pretentious for somebody sat in his pyjamas in a dimly lit room.