Catrin's Goldberg Variations

'Her transcription is imaginative but faithful, her playing dazzling and poetic, her interpretatiion fit to stand beside Glenn Gould's and yet utterly different and captivating ................... absolutely no one could fail to enjoy it'.
John Rutter, on Catrin's performance of the Goldberg Variations, February 2009.

Bach's Goldberg Variations represents a formidable challenge even for keyboard players, and has never been played previously on the harp. This is the challenge Catrin set herself in 2007, to transcribe the piece for harp, record it, and provide for the world a new arrangement that will come to occupy a respected place in the harp repertoire.

It took Catrin a year to complete this challenge, and Deutsche Grammophon released the recording in January 2009. To accompany this release, Catrin arranged her own UK tour, where she played the Goldberg, all 32 variations, which lasting 63 minutes in one sitting was a massive feat of physical and mental endurance.

You can see a short youtube clip of Catrin playing the Aria to the Goldberg Variations in the Acapela Centre, Pentyrch, Cardiff here:

If you like Catrin's music and her playing of Bach, who is one of her favourite composers, why not order a copy of the Goldberg Variations CD. It's available here:

And........if you're a harpist, you may be interested in the Goldberg Variations to learn yourself. Catrin's transcription has been published by Alaw Music, and is available to purchase here

Read other reviews of Catrin's Goldberg, from live performance, youtube clip and CD:

'Goldberg is SO beautiful. Thank you so much'
Lorna, January 2009

'Just arrived home from a fabulous first performance........WOW.........what skill!'
griffloft, February 2009

'Brilliant. Every note, every dynamic, every mood beautifully exposed. Heard things I've never heard before in this superb interpretation of this wonderful Bach creation'
Jem, February 2009

'A masterly interpretation. So different from, but just as accomplished and inspiring as that of Glen Gould'
M. Haines, February 2009

'Beautiful performance! In Catrin's hands the harp is a modern alternative to the harpsichord. A Master work by a Master performer!'
mdmusic2, March 2009

'Is this the music they play in heaven?....'
pobinr, April 2009

'...The sound of the harp is a delight and fits the music beautifully. It is my 'most-played CD on my iPod at the moment!....
Mair, April 2009