Bach's music is at the same time the most often transcribed and, on balance, the most amenable to transcription. He composed the Goldberg Variations for a ''two-manual clavicembalo'' and dedicated them to ''music-lovers for the pleasure of their souls''. Thus, a modern piano is not what he had in mind, and this transcription for string trio, treating all three instrument as equals, succeeds surprisingly well. The transcriber (and violinist in the trio) has added the words ''In memoriam Glenn Gould'' and I have been happy to place this CD alongside my treasured CD of Glenn Gould's performance (CBS MK37779, 4/84). The recording has maximum clarity and presence. The playing does not imitate all Gould's idiosyncrasies, but it plainly shares his most endearing trait—of never being dull. Compact Disc purchasers do not get the full score of transcription supplied to LP buyers.'