Tempo Rubato: Jorge Jiménez – Rethinking Bach

THE GOLDBERG VARIATIONS FOR SOLO VIOLIN
Jorge Jiménez, baroque violin

There is an urban myth that Johann Sebastian composed his Goldberg Variations to ease the nights of insomnia of one of his patrons: Count Keyserlingk. It is still unsure if this account is totally true, but the hypnotic nature of the Goldberg Variations is a fact. Spanish violinist and early music specialist Jorge Jiménez has arranged and recomposed this monumental work of art for unaccompanied violin.

The complexity of the architecture of these variations is such that just arranging them wasn’t enough to suit the violin. Jorge has resized and almost recomposed them, in the style that lots of popular works were arranged during this period, to fit the different needs of performers and audience.

This transcription of Bach’s Goldberg Variations is the completion of a 2-year long project in which the piece has toured Poland, Spain and the UK.