Bach, JS - Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (arr)  Ref: 4--011 Arranged for string quartet In this, one of five Ourtext arrangements of the work, those variations that are in four parts fall easily into place;  where ingenuity is required is in keeping players involved where the original writing is in two or three parts. Various answers have been found.  One of them is to give both violinists both violin parts.   This means that where there is only one violin involved, they can if they wish play alternate variations, or - something we have found effective ourselves - change over for the repeats, so that the listener hears the same material with a subtle change of voice. In other cases the second violin and viola or viola and cello have alternative parts. There are even alternative arrangements of the same movement - for example Variation 17, where we have included a fairly literal transcription, for those few players who feel able to tackle the notes just as Bach gave them to the harpsichordist, as you can see in the sample score below. see sample score