Piano as the one and only instrument
which able to express passion and reason equally and synchronicity.
Dear Werner,
Since there’s no one can help me to express a issue like this in English, I must look up for the help from your kindness and patience to read this disaster writing in English… I thank you.
Several times I’ve been listened to the trio version of Goldberg Variations. Here I try to analysis why I still thinking Goldberg variation was composing as a piano work and only for piano. And I like to share my point of view with you__ since I knew you always appreciate this master piece the best.
At first , let’s talk about the motive of the composition. Is it possible to tell what is the motive of this composition ? And what is the key that makes the composition arranged in such way( same aria for the beginning and ending)?
I think the keyword about the motive is “memory” __memory as mercy of life and to comfort life. Just like we’ve been discussed before, the first aria begins with a kind of atmosphere of “childhood memory ”, and the last aria discourse the death and the returning of childhood (innocent). And that means, with the attitude of accepting and appreciating everyone we’ve been love and hate, everyone made us laughed and cried, “Life” can be done in this life and in this world. And by carrying this thought , we overcome the fear of death.
I think the structure of Goldberg variations represents one- individual- person’s contemplate and meditation instead of the description of human being situation.
If it’s so, then all the harmony, praising, struggling, conflict, love, sadness, and so on…expressing in the composition must representing the internal of “someone” instead of “everyone”. for this reason, it must shown in one instrument instead of two or three . Because otherwise we won’t feel any internal intension which must exists in the composition ( not performance).
For me, the most important idea ( establishment ) of Goldberg variations is that Bach treated the bass part and melodic part as equally as it can be. With my so-limited experience of classical music, I’ve never found any other composition like this.
What makes it so important__ treated bass and melodic part equally?
I think It’s easy to observe ourselves or the people around us and get this idea which is : Reason and realm is always like north and south pole to us__ we never can stand on both in the same time. That’s why the feeling、concept、value、reason、or logic inside us don’t always express as same as appearance __ equally, and synchronicity__
We try to love someone, but we hurt them; We hate someone, but we smile to them; We like to let go, but we hold back; We are sad, but we look happy; We are stupid, but we look smart; We’re happy, and we begin to worry; We caught in the trap, and we don’t want to face it; We’re brave and chicken shit; We’re kind and vicious; We’re generous and selfish; We’re separated by ourselves. And we always don’t care until “the day “come….I think the one of the purpose of art is that the expression of reason and realm completely and equally can be done__ before we die__ It’s not always death ruling and defining everything, but life. I take the bass part in Goldberg variations as the symbol of “reason, or contemplate”; and melodic part as “realm, or feeling”. When I listen to it in this way, I realize we are not existing like broken pieces but a complete wholeness ( messy maybe, but that’s it.)__ even though we don’t always aware of it. The Goldberg Variations played by Glenn Gould recorded in 1980 represents the idea.
I always feel sooooo~ touched and peaceful inside when the last aria is playing. Ernest Hemingway once said:” We cannot avoid to fail, but we can choose the way we fail.”. I think that’s also the attitude Albert Camus had been taken during his life. And when I think of maybe__ just maybe__ Bach was the same, Gould was the same, too, I am really encouraged. And since what they left for us is something like that, I am sure crystal that I can devote all my passion and time to learn from them with no any doubt. And maybe someday I can left something for my people just like they__ and you gave to me.
Anyway, to me, the motive of composition is more important than the structural intense of instrument arrangement. Beside, the punch and interplay from the piano in Goldberg Variations is in-reduce-able and implacable; the harmony in one body is in-separate-able; the conflict inside one man cannot be expressed by two, otherwise, it’ll be like a “discourse” instead of “narrative” , and far beyond the atmosphere of “MEMORY of childhood”.
One thing you have to know is , although I don’t agree with you about the performance of intension from three instruments is better than one piano. But without your inspiration, I won’t give it a second thought especially in this angle and depth, ever. I could’ve been wrong about what I’ve written, but I really feel calm and joyful after I speak it out.
Thank you for your time for reading this article.
I Wish you healthy, and happy.
Sincerely yours
A-wei
2004/4/8
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