Goldberg-Variations, BWV 988

“[Bach's] six unaccompanied cello suites bring together three voices - two upper voices and a bass - into one line. If so, the Goldberg Variations, which have the same structure, might also be reproduced for unaccompanied cello. This sudden idea led me to the arrangement of the piece.

Of course, it is impossible to reproduce every single note, but I aimed to arrange it in a way that all the notes would sound in our mind. When combining the three lines into one, the most crucial consideration was, 'What would Bach do?'

I carefully read materials and scores, repeatedly listened to recordings, performed my arrangement in concerts, and revised it over and over. That time was not painful, but pure joy, and it was a time to immerse myself in 'being Bach.' It is no exaggeration to say that it was more a time of recreation rather than arrangement.

The articulations and slurs are fundamentally based on the facsimile of the first edition (the edition by Anne Fuzeau Productions) that Bach himself owned. It is a highly credible edition with corrections in red written by Bach.”

Arrangement period: 2017-2023

Premiere: December 8, 2020 at Daisuke Kitaguchi Cello Recital; Muramatsu Recital Hall Shin-Osaka (Osaka)