Johann Gottlieb Goldberg

Full biography Johann Gottlieb Goldberg

Johann Gottlieb Goldberg (1727-1756) was a German composer , harpsichordist, and organist of the late Baroque and early Classical periods. He was born in Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) and was educated at the Kreuzschule in Dresden. Goldberg's parents were both musicians, and his father, Johann Gottlieb Goldberg Sr., was a former student of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Despite his relatively short life, Goldberg made a significant contribution to music history. He is perhaps best known for his association with Bach and the famous keyboard work, the Goldberg Variations. According to Johann Nikolaus Forkel , Bach's first biographer, the Variations were commissioned by the Russian ambassador to the Saxony court, Count Hermann Carl von Keyserlingk, who was a patron of the arts and an avid musician. Keyserlingk wanted a musical work that was both challenging and calming, to help him sleep during his bouts of insomnia. Goldberg, who was a young harpsichordist in Bach's service at the time, was chosen to perform the work for Keyserlingk.

Goldberg's contributions to music extend beyond his association with Bach and the Goldberg Variations. He was a prolific composer in his own right, and his works include chamber music, sonatas, and concertos. He was also highly regarded as a teacher, and his pupils included the young Johann Nepomuk Hummel, who went on to become a prominent composer and pianist.

Despite his impressive musical achievements, Goldberg's life was cut short by illness. He died in December 1756 at the young age of 29. Despite his brief career, Goldberg left behind a lasting legacy in the world of music, and his contributions continue to be celebrated and studied today.