Glenn Gould’s 1955 recording of Bach’s Goldberg
Variations took the music world by storm
and is considered the definitive version of
Bach’s famous piece. His technical skill,
startling lucidity, and precise rhythmic
changes made him an instant legendary
pianist. Gould’s final recording, done 26
years later is included here. It’s a more relaxed
and more inward reading. This luxurious
3 CD set is very entertaining, and a
joy to hear. The third CD is devoted to outtakes
and insightful chatter. A must-have
for any classical music lover’s collection.
Track Listing
Disc 1
1. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Aria (Instrumental) 
2. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 1 a 1 Clav. (Instrumental)
3. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 2 a 1 Clav. (Instrumental)
4. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 3 a 1 Clav. Canone all' Unisuono (Instrumental)
5. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 4 a 1 Clav. (Instrumental)
6. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 5 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
7. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 6 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Seconda (Instrumental)
8. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 7 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
9. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 8 a 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
10. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 9 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Terza (Instrumental)
11. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 10 a 1 Clav. Fughetta (Instrumental)
12. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 11 a 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
13. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 12 Canone alla Quarta (Instrumental)
14. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 13 a 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
15. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 14 a 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
16. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 15 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Quinta. Andante (Instrumental)
17. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 16 Ouverture a 1 Clav. (Instrumental)
18. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 17 a 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
19. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 18 - Canone alla Sesta a 1 Clav. (Instrumental)
20. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 19 a 1 Clav. (Instrumental)
21. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 20 a 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
22. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 21 Canone alla Settima (Instrumental)
23. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 22 Alla breve a 1 Clav. (Instrumental)
24. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 23 a 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
25. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 24 Canone all' Ottava a 1 Clav. (Instrumental)
26. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 25 a 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
27. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 26 a 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
28. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 27 Canone alla Nona (Instrumental)
29. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 28 a 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
30. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 29 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav. (Instrumental)
31. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 30 a 1 Clav. Quodlibet (Instrumental)
32. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Aria da capo (Instrumental)
Disc 2
1. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Aria
2. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 1 a 1 Clav.
3. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 2 a 1 Clav.
4. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 3 a 1 Clav. Canone all'Unisono
5. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 4 a 1 Clav.
6. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 5 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav.
7. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 6 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Seconda
8. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 7 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav.
9. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 8 a 2 Clav.
10. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 9 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Terza
11. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 10 a 1 Clav. Fughetta
12. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 11 a 2 Clav.
13. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 12 Canone alla Quarta
14. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 13 a 2 Clav.
15. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 14 a 2 Clav.
16. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 15 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Quinta. Andante
17. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 16 a 1 Clav. Overture
18. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 17 a 2 Clav.
19. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 18 a 1 Clav. Canone alla Sesta
20. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 19 a 1 Clav.
21. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 20 a 2 Clav.
22. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 21 Canone alla Settima
23. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 22 a 1 Clav. Alla breve
24. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 23 a 2 Clav.
25. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 24 a 1 Clav. Canone all'Ottava
26. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 25 a 2 Clav.
27. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 26 a 2 Clav.
28. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 27 a 2 Clav. Canone alla Nona
29. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 28 a 2 Clav.
30. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 29 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav.
31. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Variation 30 a 1 Clav. Quodlibet
32. Goldberg Variations, BWV 988/Aria da capo 3
Disc 3
1. Glenn Gould discusses his performances of the "Goldberg Variations" with Tim Page
2. Studio Outakes from the 1955 Goldberg Variations