Re: Goldbergs -- just a pop song?

[jerry and judy <jerbidoc@zianet.com>]

>Hello miners,
>
>Here in Australia the ABC (our version of the BBC) have put out a 2-CD
>set called Wagner's Rinse Cycle (465 260-2), a pot pourri of bits and
>pieces in a humourous vein.
>
>The 12th piece on CD One is George Malcolm playing 'Bach before the
>mast', Malcolm's version of the Sailor's Hornpipe as it might have been
>written by JSB. The blurb for the piece includes the following:
>
>"...Bach himself was not averse to including the odd pop song in his
>works: the conclusion of his gigantic and profound 'Goldberg' Variations,
>in fact, has an ironic little melange of contemporary popular songs...".
>
>Is this assertion true, and if so what are the songs? Anyone know the
>answer? Best regards,
>
>
>Tim Conway
>Broome, WA, Oz

the last variation (30) (a quodlibet) is a musical jest.  Within the form
and harmony of the theme, 2 folksongs are introduced.  The texts are, in
English "It is so long since I've been with you" and "Cabbage and turnips
have driven me away".  These texts appear on the final page of the source
for the original printing, written in by hand.  The first song enters in
the tenor voice in the first measure and the second appears in the alto in
the next measure.   'Very clever and all seems wittily comfortable.  BTW,
it's not easy to bring out these two subjects with equal emphasis, for me
at least.  ;)  I didn't want you to think that this is in any way, a
frivolous after thought.  It works very well, even if you don't get the
joke!

Jerry