Aria from Bach’s Goldberg Variations - Glenn Gould’s interpretation.

The Aria of J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations serves as both the genetic blueprint and the emotional anchor for the thirty variations that follow. While it is a sarabande—a slow, triple-meter dance—it is the underlying bass line, rather than the melody, that provides the structural foundation for the entire work.

Glenn Gould’s Controlled Interpretation

When discussing the Aria through the lens of Glenn Gould, specifically his legendary 1981 re-recording, the performance transcends mere "background music." Gould strips away the romanticized, flowing rubato often associated with Baroque keyboard music, opting instead for a performance defined by architectural precision.