What is the nature of creativity? How does limitation spark generation? What does 250-year-old music have to do with John Coltrane? In this class, we will explore these questions and more through J.S. Bach’s keyboard masterwork, the “Goldberg” Variations. Together, we will ask what makes the piece tick — how Bach took a simple idea and ran with it to conjure 30 different worlds. Then, we’ll follow the piece into the present, where it continues to inspire artists around the globe. No prior knowledge of Bach or the “Goldberg” Variations required.

Faculty Bio

Lowry Yankwich is an award-winning podcaster, pianist, and lawyer. His podcasts, “30 Bach” and “The Tonic,” probe music’s place in history, society, and others’ lives. He has taught on music and podcasting at Harvard, Stanford, and Temple University

This is an In-Person, Livestreamed + Recorded Course

• Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 365 (3rd floor), at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
• Classes will also stream live simultaneously, and be recorded
• You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

• Course starts on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and ends on Wednesday, Nov. 4
• Classes meet for 4 weeks, 2 hours per session (1–3 p.m.)
• All course materials will be available in Member Dashboards through Dec. 31