Variations Down the Line

Variations Down the Line is an exciting new project curated by pianist Rachel Fryer, presenting Bach’s epic Goldberg Variations interwoven with 21st century responses written by five acclaimed composers: Samuel Becker, Julian Broughton, Michael Finnissy, Alison Kay and Nicola LeFanu.

Rachel Fryer writes “I have got to know these wonderful variations through having performed them for many years and would now like to extend his vision into the modern world with this new project. Involving five contrasting yet complementary composers will ensure it has the diversity of Bach’s original.”

The variations are co-commissioned by JAM festival in Kent, who hosted the premiere in July 2020. The new variations are interspersed into Bach’s original and are being performed together as a tour of rural festivals across the South East in September 2021.