Johann Sebastian Bach's third set of dance suites for the
clavier, known as the Partitas (BWV 825-830), were composed between 1725
and 1730 or 1731, placing them during Bach's time in Leipzig. This also makes
them the last suites he composed for the keyboard. Each partita was published
separately but they were also published as a collection forming volume 1 of the
Clavier-Übung (Keyboard Practice). The title "Partita" in the
strict sense actually means variation, however, it is far more usual to see it
used as an alternate name for a dance suite. The Partitas are also
occasionally called the German Suites. This title was applied after
Bach's death to continue the naming convention of the English and French
Suites. Yet, like those sets, there is nothing particularly "German" about
the Partitas.
The Partitas are the most technically
challenging and diverse of the three sets of suites. The English Suites
were characterized by a consistent form-each suite being preceded by a prelude
and only one dance inserted before the gigue. The French Suites universally
dispensed with any form of introductory movement, but varied in the number of
dances interposed between the Sarabande and Gigue. The Partitas, on the
other hand, vary significantly in form from suite to suite. Each suite, except
for the fifth, begins with a different type introductory movement before the Allemande.
The first and fifth both start with Preludes, the second with a Sinfonia, the
third with a Fantasia, the fourth with an Overture, and the sixth with a Toccata.
The suites vary in the number of dances inserted before the Gigue, yet there
are never more than three additional dances. Besides this, there are
significant deviations from the usual dance suite form. The second suite ends
exceptionally with a Capriccio instead of a Gigue and the sixth suite places an
Air before the Sarabande. The third suite in A minor also includes a
dance titled Scherzo. While not the type of Scherzo made famous by
Beethoven, it does share some characteristics with it. Joseph DeBose
Classical Music | Piano Music
Johann Sebastian Bach
Partita No. 2 in c minor, BWV 826 Play
Recorded on 12/06/2005, uploaded on 01/18/2009
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Six Partitas Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach's third set of dance suites for the clavier, known as the Partitas (BWV 825-830), were composed between 1725 and 1730 or 1731, placing them during Bach's time in Leipzig. This also makes them the last suites he composed for the keyboard. Each partita was published separately but they were also published as a collection forming volume 1 of the Clavier-Übung (Keyboard Practice). The title "Partita" in the strict sense actually means variation, however, it is far more usual to see it used as an alternate name for a dance suite. The Partitas are also occasionally called the German Suites. This title was applied after Bach's death to continue the naming convention of the English and French Suites. Yet, like those sets, there is nothing particularly "German" about the Partitas.
The Partitas are the most technically challenging and diverse of the three sets of suites. The English Suites were characterized by a consistent form-each suite being preceded by a prelude and only one dance inserted before the gigue. The French Suites universally dispensed with any form of introductory movement, but varied in the number of dances interposed between the Sarabande and Gigue. The Partitas, on the other hand, vary significantly in form from suite to suite. Each suite, except for the fifth, begins with a different type introductory movement before the Allemande. The first and fifth both start with Preludes, the second with a Sinfonia, the third with a Fantasia, the fourth with an Overture, and the sixth with a Toccata. The suites vary in the number of dances inserted before the Gigue, yet there are never more than three additional dances. Besides this, there are significant deviations from the usual dance suite form. The second suite ends exceptionally with a Capriccio instead of a Gigue and the sixth suite places an Air before the Sarabande. The third suite in A minor also includes a dance titled Scherzo. While not the type of Scherzo made famous by Beethoven, it does share some characteristics with it. Joseph DeBose
More music by Johann Sebastian Bach
French Suite No 6 in E major BWV 817
Prelude in b minor
Nun komm’ der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659
Prelude & Fugue in A minor BWV 894
English Suite No. 2 in a minor, BWV 807
Well Tempered Clavier - Prelude 1
Prelude and Fugue in E Major from Well-Tempered Clavier Book II
Italian concerto, BWV 971
Prelude and Fugue in B flat minor, Well Tempered Piano Book 2
g-minor Violin Sonata - Presto
Performances by same musician(s)
Ballade No. 3 in b minor, Allegro, Op. 10
Ballade No. 1 in d minor, Andante, Op. 10
Ballade No. 4 in B major, Andante con moto, Op. 10
Ballade No. 2 in D Major, Andante, Op. 10
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