Open Goldberg Variations: Kimiko Ishizaka makes a great public domain recording

Kimiko Ishizaka has released a free, public domain recording of the goldberg variations.  They are good.  Also, she is German and a powerlifter (honest!).

Download or listen now:

• opengoldbergvariations.org
• soundcloud
• ipad app to listen and follow the score

The Dramatic Delay or Excessive Phrasing

I tend to like my Bach "dry".

One of my pet peeves is what I refer to as "Dramatic Delay". This is where the musician holds a note longer than is specified in the score to somehow build tension, drama, or something in the music. Based on my years of piano, I think it stems from music teachers encouraging their students to "interpret" or "feel" the music. In some musical settings (like when listening to music I don't care for anyway), I really don't mind. But when you start messing with Bach, you're messing with counterpoint (explicit or implied) and so you are making a mess of one voice while trying to emphasize the other. IMHO, Bach (and most pre-romantic era music) should be played with strict timing and no undo emphasis on one voice over another. Bach is great, in part, because every voice is interesting. So, I find it highly ironic that while a musician thinks they are doing Bach a favor by getting all dramatic with one phrase, they have inadvertently maligned the other voice or (typically) voices.

Here are some examples. Right now I only have midi recordings to give an example of a recording with strict timing, but I'll get more as I get time. [I'm sure the musicians who provide the dramatic delay examples are fine musicians, despite this perceived flaw]:

Prelude to the 1st Cello Suite

• dramatic delay [click on the Prelude after getting to the site]
• strict timing (midi)

Goldberg Variations (Variation 4)

• dramatic delay (the Rousset recording is a good, highly acclaimed recording, but well, see for yourself)
• A timidity pipe of Dave Grossman's midi

Not saying Joshua Bell isn't awesome; the photo just fit the message.

The "Dramatic Delay" is right up there with the "Musician's Swoon", where the musician (typically a first chair or soloist) feels compelled to sway, shake, contort as they play--no, feel--no, become--the music. My music teachers encouraged this and no, I never gave in, at least in a detectable way. I'm not saying that some bodily and even facial movements are not appropriate, but I really think Bach would have pulled his saber on his first chair student if they acted the way some musicians do.

For those I've offended, I sincerely apologize.  I realize I'm in the minority on these two points.  I acknowledge that you are likely way more proficient in music than I am.  Also, if you are making money with your instrument (or teaching your instrument), you should probably keep doing whatever you are doing!  Just know that some of us prefer a little more reserve in manner and interpretation.

Glenn Gould's Goldberg Variations

This video of Glenn Gould playing the complete Goldberg Variations can legally be downloaded and then transformed into an mp3.

1. Go to the google video page.
2. Click on the "Download video - iPod/PSP" button.
3. convert to mp3

On windows, this can be done by using Firefox with the Flash Video add-on to capture the MP4, then Switch Sound File Converter (free) to extract the MP3. (thanks Donald)

On linux, you can just use ffmpeg:

sudo aptitude install ffmpeg mplayer libavcodec-extra-52
ffmpeg -i "Goldberg Variations.mp4" -ab 128k -ar 44100 Goldberg_Variations.mp3

Anyone know what the date of this recording was?

freesolopiano.com has good solo piano music

A lot of these are very nice solo piano works:

http://freesolopiano.com

I admit I'm tempted to buy some albums.