Track List

  1. Aria
  2. Variation 1
  3. Variation 2
  4. Variation 3, Canone All'unisono
  5. Variation 4
  6. Variation 5
  7. Variation 6, Canone Alla Seconda
  8. Variation 7, Al Tempo Di Giga
  9. Variation 8
  10. Variation 9, Canone Alla Terza
  11. Variation 10, Fughetta
  12. Variation 11
  13. Variation 12, Canone All Quarta in Moto Contrario
  14. Variation 13
  15. Variation 14
  16. Variation 15, Canone Alla Quinta. Andante
  17. Variation 16, Ouverture
  18. Variation 17
  19. Variation 18, Canone Alla Sesta
  20. Variation 19
  21. Variation 20
  22. Variation 21, Canone Alla Settima
  23. Variation 22, Alla Breve
  24. Variation 23
  25. Variation 24, Canone All'ottava
  26. Variation 25, Adagio
  27. Variation 26
  28. Variation 27, Canone Alla Nona
  29. Variation 28
  30. Variation 29
  31. Variation 30, Quodlibet
  32. Aria Da Capo
Acclaim
February 1, 2024

74: The Power Behind the Bench

Ramsay’s playing is fluid, clean, and sounds easy.

Ramsay’s playing is fluid, clean, and sounds easy.

William White, Joseph Vaz, & Listeners
,
Tone Prose
Acclaim
October 29, 2020

Ramsay sidesteps these challenges, and the lovely if echoic acoustic of King’s College Chapel – which gives the harp a sometimes overwhelming shimmering acoustic ripple – by playing subtly with tempos and dynamics, effecting what must be some very nifty footwork on the pedals, as well as finger-twisting work on the strings. None of this effort comes across in the nuanced, insightful playing.

Ramsay sidesteps these challenges, and the lovely if echoic acoustic of King’s College Chapel – which gives the harp a sometimes overwhelming shimmering acoustic ripple – by playing subtly with tempos and dynamics, effecting what must be some very nifty footwork on the pedals, as well as finger-twisting work on the strings. None of this effort comes across in the nuanced, insightful playing.

Sarah Urwin Jones
,
BBC Music Magazine
Acclaim
September 24, 2020

‘Goldberg Variations’ and ‘Mass for the Endangered’ Review: A Baroque Blitz and an Environmental Plea

Marked by keen musical intelligence...

Marked by keen musical intelligence...

Barbara Jepson
,
The Wall Street Journal
Acclaim
September 22, 2020

Harpist Parker Ramsay plays Goldbergs in King’s College Chapel

"That it can be done, and done so well, is a testament both to Parker Ramsay’s ingenuity and his splendid technique.

"That it can be done, and done so well, is a testament both to Parker Ramsay’s ingenuity and his splendid technique.

Daniel Hathaway
,
Cleveland Classical
Feature
September 10, 2020

Bach’s Goldberg Variations — and All of its Loopholes — Keep it Indestructible

"like a radiant mirage… it’s relentlessly beautiful…"

"like a radiant mirage… it’s relentlessly beautiful…"

David Patrick Stearns
,
WQXR Editorial
Feature
August 14, 2020

Is Bach Better on Harp?

"I kept struggling with what my ideal 'Goldbergs' might sound like. I wanted the raw pluckiness of the harpsichord, but with the expressive qualities of the piano. About five years ago, I came to realize that the way to hear this work — and most of Bach, for that matter — as I wanted would be to use my first instrument, the modern pedal harp."

"I kept struggling with what my ideal 'Goldbergs' might sound like. I wanted the raw pluckiness of the harpsichord, but with the expressive qualities of the piano. About five years ago, I came to realize that the way to hear this work — and most of Bach, for that matter — as I wanted would be to use my first instrument, the modern pedal harp."

Parker Ramsay
,
The New York Times
Acclaim
August 6, 2020

Classical reviews: Bach and Schubert

The harp rearrangement of Bach's keyboard music is a resounding success...

The harp rearrangement of Bach's keyboard music is a resounding success...

Michael Church
,
The Independent
Acclaim

JS BACH Goldberg Variations (arr for harp. Parker Ramsay)

"Remarkably Special"

"Remarkably Special"

Mark Seow
,
Gramophone