Playlist for Thursday, August 21

We're going for more than eight golds on GPB's Midday Music.

In the Goldberg Variations, Bach presents a beautiful initial tune, riffs on its bass line in many ways and finally returns to the opening tune. We hear the Goldberg Variations (in Glenn Gould's 1955 recording) plus variations on them - from Bach's own canons on that same bassline, to Gabriela Montero's Goldberg-inspired improv, to a rag on mandolin, piano and tuba.

Also on this glittering show, there's gold from the River Rhine, a golden rooster of Russian lore, the golden spike that connected America's railroads, goldenrods, a golden age and a golden spinning wheel. Phelps, schmelps!

11 AM

• Bach: Fourteen Canons on the Bass-line of the Goldberg Variations. Richard Egarr. Harmonia Mundi 907425.26.
• Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988. Glenn Gould. Sony 87703.
• Montero: Improvisation on the Theme from Bach's Goldberg Variations. Gabriela Montero. EMI 58039.
• Gladd: The Goldberg Rag, from Three Rags after Bach. Ugo Orlandi, Maura Mazzonetto, Daniele Bosio. Naxos 8.557999.

12 N

• Wagner/Stokowski: Das Rheingold: Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla. Bournemouth Sym Orch, Serebrier. Naxos 8.570293.
• Rimsky-Korsakov: The Golden Cockerel: Bridal Procession and the Lamentable Death of King Dodon. Philadelphia Orch, Ormandy. Sony 61699.
• Zimbalist: Fantasy on Themes from Rimsky-Korsakov's Golden Cockerel. Alexander Sitkovetsky, Olga Sitkovetsky. EMI 57025.
• Antheil: "American" Symphony (No. 3), including "The Golden Spike." Radio Sym Orch Frankfurt, Wolff. CPO 777 040.
• Oswald: The Golden Rod. Matthew Dixon, Broadside Band. Dorian 80164.
  

1 PM

• Shostakovich: The Golden Age, Suite. Chicago Sym, Stokowski. RCA 74321 70931.
• Dvorak: The Golden Spinning Wheel. Royal Concertgebouw Orch, Harnoncourt. Teldec 8573 87630.