When harpsichordist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg asked Bach to write   pieces for him to play to help a Saxon count get to sleep at night he   could hardly have realized that he was playing a key role in creating   music that would inspire audiences and musicians for centuries.
Not only are the Goldberg Variations among the most frequently  performed works  today, they also continue to inspire composers to write  new variations  on the famous themes. We’ll feature an incredible array  of these this  week on Relevant Tones.
Hosted by Seth Boustead
Produced by Jesse McQuarters

Dan Tepfer: Improvisation 1 & Variation 1
Dan Tepfer, piano
Uri Caine: The Introitus Variation
Kettwiger Bach Ensemble; David Moss, vocals
J.S. Bach: Aria fr. Goldberg Variations
Jeremy Denk, piano
Misha Zupko: Ghost Variation
Lara Downes, piano
Jennifer Higdon: Gilmore Variation
Lara Downes, piano
Derek Bermel: Kontraphunktus
Lara Downes, piano
Karlheinz Essl: Fantasia Chromatica fr. Gold.berg.werk for instruments and electronics
Christina Neubauer, violin; Martin Kraushofer, viola; Eva Landkammer, cello
Gabriela Montero: Improvisation on the Aria fr. Bach’s Goldberg Variations
Gabriela Montero, piano
Uri Caine: Variation 9 (Canon at the Third)
Ralph Alesi, trumpet; Don Byron, clarinet; Uri Caine, piano; Reid Anderson, bass
Uri Caine: Variation 10 (Fughetta)
Kettwiger Bach Ensemble; David  Moss, vocals
J.S. Bach: Aria fr. Goldberg Variations (excerpt)
Lara Downes, piano
Bright Sheng: Variation Fugato
Lara Downes, piano