The ‘Goldberg Variations’ is considered one of many exceptional works by Bach. Each of the 32 ‘variations’ is connected because they all use the same bass line while the more distinctly heard melody is very different for each segment. These were written at a time before the piano when organs and harpsichords had multiple  keyboards and since the fingering for several pieces intertwined each hand Bach intended the performer to use two separate keyboards, one for each hand. Since today’s pianos only have one keyboard the playing of these compositions can be very difficult. The pianist Glenn Gould has recorded two of the more famous renditions of this work and he had a specific piano bench designed for him so that he could sway back and forth to help him while playing.

(The Great Courses – Bach and the High Baroque)