Bwv 988: The Goldberg Variations By J. S. Bach

The Leipzig Cantor completed the actual Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 inside 1741.

The very composition includes a strong "Aria" along with 30 Variations. Historians at the end of the 20th century are now discussing the actual specific information on the work's origin, but several acknowledge the fact that J.G. Goldberg commissioned this.

His job had been to perform for Count Keyserlingk, a real serious insomniac who needed tunes to lull him to sleep. A lot of documents suggest the fact that Bach once educated Goldberg, a very credited virtuoso, who would have readily happened to be capable to perform the particular variations. It is simply furthermore accepted that the complex magic needed to perform most of the variations originates directly from Bach's study of Domenico Scarlatti's Essercizi for keyboard from 1739, itself a good solid overwhelming piece for outstanding players.

Mr. Serkin's preceding Bach recording for RCA, released early, had been pulled through the opposite end of the composer's keyboard output, the actual tough "Goldberg" Variations, and also the actual preferred "Italian Concerto" (09026-68188-2).

Obtained alongside one another both the versions of Serkin and Dinnerstein present a exciting approach to Bach's keyboard works. Mr. Serkin has certainly benefited from the lessons of the early-music movement regarding late Baroque style and performance practice. Although the pianist's longstanding contribution with modern music is also visible throughout his feeling with regard to exactly what is unique and also radical in Bach.

The Turkish born Belgian pianist's tempos are closer to to those of Glenn Gould rather than Jarrett. Nonetheless there is really a good subdued similitude inside Okonsar and Jarrett's techniques, while they happen to be accomplished on distinct instruments, Jarrett's on "clavicembalo" and Okonsar on piano.

The very analogy of each readings stick to conceptual portion. The multi-faceted music artist Okonsar combined with Jarrett share a good non-exaggerated view of Bach. Neither artist is obssessed within the "historical-authenticity" view nor the main "romantic" approach.

Mehmet Okonsar was born in Istanbul (Turkey) and lived in Paris throughout his earliest education. He started learning piano in the National Conservatory of Ankara, with Nimet Karatekin and Necil Kazim Akses.

Following about a year and half studying at the Ankara Conservatory, the Okonsar family transferred to Belgium where Mehmet joined the class of Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden at the Brussels Royal Conservatory of Music.

Throughout this period connected with problems who was the 70s in Turkey, Okonsar connected on both friendly as well as professional basis with a pianist and conductor, ex-student of Pierre Sancan. Coming from this specific companionship he figured out basic fundamentals of the keyboard guidelines of Pierre Sancan who was the teacher of pianists like Michel Beroff and the student of Yves Nat.

His very first essential recital occurred in 1979. The program incorporated Preludes by Messiaen and the Pictures of an Exhibition by Mussorgsky.

The piano studies of Okonsar finished with all the highest honors any student can certainly ever get at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. "Premier Prix avec Distinction", performing the "Dante Sonata" by Liszt and then "Diplome Superieur de Piano Avec la plus Grande Distinction, Premier Nomme", in 1986, executing the Piano Concerto Op. 42 by Arnold Schoenberg.

At the end of his piano studies, Okonsar received the benefit of working with one of the better composers of Belgium: Madame Jacqueline Fontyn. He as well studied with a scholar of Messiaen, Claude Ballif. In 1989 he receives his degrees in Composition-Orchestration from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Brussels.

One afternoon the phone rang and a lady phoning from Switzerland requested him. Alexis Weissenberg, a pianist Okonsar venerated and also just about worshiped, required him to study with in Switzerland. Funds seemed to be short but the master made available Okonsar a full scholarship. One can witness in all performances by Okonsar how deeply Weissenberg had an effect on him.

Right after becoming a Belgian national, Mehmet Okonsar and his spouse Lale, artist headed back to Turkey following an invitation by the President Suleyman Demirel who provided him the particular most sought-after title of "State Artist of the Turkish Republic".

"Working from Turkey isn't unachievable within our times" affirms the pianist.

It is valid that he is in particular at ease with the computer systems and has an exceptionally formidable reputation on the Internet.

Okonsar is very effective from Turkey where he performs, exercise, compose and writes. He runs a CD company and a publishing house.

Mehmet Okonsar's international career started out with the 1st prize at the International Young Virtuoses Competition of Antwerp in 1982. His orchestral debut was the 3rd Concerto by Rachmaninoff executed at the "de Singel" Concert Hall in Antwerp, Belgium. His various other prizes are: Paris, 1989, "J. S. Bach" at the Salle Gaveau: 2nd prize; 1990, Rome, Association Chopin "Premio Etruria": first prize; and 1991, United States, Utah, the 6th prize at the "Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition".

His noted concerts incorporated the premiere in Turkey of the Concerto for piano by Schoenberg and his awesome performances of the Concerto for piano by Lutoslawski in Poland.

Working broadly on technological issues, as he remarks "the actual technologies may possibly "free" the artist", his experiments were offered in a lecture at the Yamaha home office in Hamamatsu, Japan.

His repertoire includes a selection from the early seventeenth century ("The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book") together with composers, among others, Orlando Gibbons and Giles Farnaby and also reaches up to late twentieth century with all the works by Karlheinz Stockhausen and Witold Lutoslawski.

Significant works in this repertoire are: J.S. Bach "The Art of Fugue" executed on organ (or piano) and also harpsichord; the Goldberg Variations, the integrale of Well-tempered Keyboard.

The particular performing by the Mehmet Okonsar of the actual theme, "Aria", is really not far from that of Glenn Gould. There is an recognizable simplicity along with "naivete" which hardly ever conceals one unimaginable organization as well as a good solid absolutely manipulated feel. Those are typically unmistakable signs for an remarkable keyboard technique which is going to deliver quickly by means of the particular impending variations.

In these days along with quite a few wonderful pianists, "finger technique" is certainly synonym with regard to automatic along with robotic performing ability. This is actually very annoying. A tremendous finger technique within the piano implies first together with primary the power to execute both evenly together with musically as well. Okonsar possesses that variety of "finger technique".

Barely a real handful of performing artists can in fact perform The "Kappelmeister" on the piano combined with yet get the transparency combined with sharpness commonly related together with the Harpsichord. The composer, conductor and musicologist as well as pianist Okonsar is really one of those. The so-called historical authenticity is in fact not a dried up term there.

The composer, conductor and musicologist as well as pianist Okonsar is without question a good adept of the "Free Music" viewpoint. Every bit of his CD releases are typically shared basically by the main self-sufficient artist. This is a exciting frame of mind which in turn, regarding to the musician and performer might be of big returns to both the artist, most of the launch in addition to the main classical music scene.

Likewise the actual the top digital video site Youtube(r) features a quantity of the multi-faceted music artist Okonsar's performance media. Many times his Compact disc publications are concurrently submitted as videos into the artist's Youtube(r) channel: mokonsar.