Open Goldberg Variations - Setting Bach Free

[Opus106]

From the project's page at KickStarter.com,

We are creating a new score and studio recording of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, and we're placing them in the public domain [Using the Creative Commons Zero tool.] for everyone to own and use without limitations on licensing.

Bach wrote his seminal work over 270 years ago, yet public domain scores and recordings are hard or impossible to find. Until now!

This project will start by creating a new engraving of the Goldberg Variations using the MuseScore notation software. The edition will be subject to scholarly review, and when it is finished, it will be available to everyone to own and use without limitations.

Then we're working with pianist Kimiko Ishizaka to create a professional studio recording of the Goldbergs. This recording will also be made available to everyone to own and use without limitations.

They are looking for funds right now, and the recording will be produced only when they reach the target of $15000, and they're already over halfway there.

Project's Home page at opengoldbergvariations.org

[FideLeo]

On a tangent, facsimile of the first edition with or without Bach's own addition of 14 canons, is available to download at the IMSLP website. http://imslp.org/wiki/Special:ImagefromIndex/74598

[prémont]

A pity they are going to let a pianist record the work.

[FideLeo]

A pity they are going to let a pianist record the work.

The 'vors Clavicembal mit 2 Manualen' part of the original title page probably won't receive any attention in the final publication. 

[Chaszz]

The 'vors Clavicembal mit 2 Manualen' part of the original title page probably won't receive any attention in the final publication. 

But it sounds so good on piano, especially by Gould in the earlier recording. And Bach often adapted his works for alternate instruments, changing almost nothing in the scores when doing so. Also he took an active, and even professional, interest in the developing claviers and infant pianofortes of his time. I think it is almost certain he would have welcomed a piano interpretation of the Goldbergs, maybe not as a definitive one but as a valid one. And I think he was interested in expansive possibilities as much as in definitive versions.   

Almost in spite of his greatness, he was humble and very interested in what other composers and musicians were doing, absorbed many influences from all over Europe and transformed them in the process. I think it's almost certain that if he could hear Gould play the Goldbergs, his reaction would be not "This is against my intentions" but "Highly interesting -- what can I learn from this?"

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

On a tangent, facsimile of the first edition with or without Bach's own addition of 14 canons, is available to download at the IMSLP website. http://imslp.org/wiki/Special:ImagefromIndex/74598

"Denen Liebhabern zur Gemüths-Ergetzung verfertiget von Johann Sebastian Bach" - Haha, I love the old german writing.

[Scarpia]

A pity they are going to let a pianist record the work.

Yes, by all means it should be illegal for a pianist to play the work.   

[(poco) Sforzando]

But it sounds so good on piano, especially by Gould in the earlier recording. And Bach often adapted his works for alternate instruments, changing almost nothing in the scores when doing so. Also he took an active, and even professional, interest in the developing claviers and infant pianofortes of his time. I think it is almost certain he would have welcomed a piano interpretation of the Goldbergs, maybe not as a definitive one but as a valid one. And I think he was interested in expansive possibilities as much as in definitive versions.   

Almost in spite of his greatness, he was humble and very interested in what other composers and musicians were doing, absorbed many influences from all over Europe and transformed them in the process. I think it's almost certain that if he could hear Gould play the Goldbergs, his reaction would be not "This is against my intentions" but "Highly interesting -- what can I learn from this?"

Agreed, and the entire work succeeds brilliantly on the piano in the hands of a Gould, a Rosen, et al., even those variations originally intended for 2 manuals. What I would really like to see, however, is a practical performing edition for the piano. The old Bischoff edition has a number of footnotes providing workarounds for the more difficult cross-hand passages, but doesn't really go far enough.

[Mandryka]

A pity they are going to let a pianist record the work.

Agreed. Everything is what it is and not another thing.

But what about the wonderful, joyful, transcription by Busoni. Surely you can't object to that.

[asin]B0009UBYA6[/asin]

[Opus106]

The recording and the score are now available for download: http://www.opengoldbergvariations.org/


And here's a blog post that describes the development of the OGV project, including the developments of the MuseScore software which entailed.

[Karl Henning]

Agreed. Everything is what it is and not another thing.

But what about the wonderful, joyful, transcription by Busoni. Surely you can't object to that.

[asin]B0009UBYA6[/asin]

Mmm, a temptation.

[Sammy]

Well, I listened to the entire Goldbergs from Kimiko Ishizaka - not bad at all, a rather gentle interpretation that reminds me a little of the Ohlsson on Bridge except that he plays none of the repeats except for Var. 30.

Concerning Bach on piano, I'm surprised that any of you would try to justify its merits; I thought this pro/con thing was a dead issue. 

[johnsmith21997]

Come on people!!!

How can you value public domain cr**p on the internet over good urtext editions bought from a store? Besides, while you're at it you are also supporting music publishing companies. Stuff printed off the internet can't compare to fine quality editions on fine quality paper, even if it is free.

[North Star]

Take the trash bag on your way out, John.

[Opus106]

How can you value [...] cr**p on the internet...?

We are hardened souls who are enduring worse.

[eyeresist]

This guy has flash, but does he have the staying power to become an internet crank of legend?

[Opus106]

MusOpen is now looking for funds to create recordings of Chopin's entire oeuvre and make it available in public domain.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/Musopen/set-chopin-free

The Kick-starter campaign closes on Oct 20, and they're nearly half-way from their goal of $75,000.

[Opus106]

Robert Douglass and Kimiko Ishizaka are coming together again, this time for book 1 of the WTK.

This contribution to the public domain includes two hours of recorded music and a MuseScore score, which has far more capabilities and value than the antiquated scans of paper documents that are currently available. A score by MuseScore is ready for the internet, and mobile devices, and allows computers to process the music in useful ways.

Our team consists of pianist Kimiko Ishizaka who recorded the Open Goldberg Variations to great acclaim and glowing reviews. She'll be assisted by producer Anne-Marie Sylvestre, and she'll play a Bösendorfer piano, provided by the manufacturer, that she gets to hand pick from all of their instruments. The recording will be made in the Teldex Studio, Berlin, one of the finest studios in the world. PARMA Recordings will publish and distribute the recording worldwide on the Navona Recordings label.

The score will be produced by the MuseScore team and Olivier Miquel. GRIN Verlag will publish the score in its print form.

The Recording will be distributed online in MP3, WAV, and lossless FLAC file formats. In addition, the master multi-track WAV files containing all tracks and microphones will also be made available, along with video and photos of the recording sessions.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/293573191/open-well-tempered-clavier-bah-to-bach