Bach - Six partitas BWV 825-830 for piano

Six partitas BWV 825-830 by Jean-Sébastien Bach for piano

Editor : Rudolf Steglich.

Titles :

• Partita 1 B-dur - Bb major - Sib majeur BWV 825 (Praeludium, Allemande, Corrente, Sarabande, Menuet I, Menuet II, Gigue)
• Partita 2 c-moll - c minor - ut mineur BWV 826 (Sinfonia, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Rondeaux, Capriccio)
• Partita 3 a-moll - a minor - la mineur BWV 827 (Fantasia, Allemande, Corrente, Sarabande, Burlesca, Scherzo, Gigue)
• Partita 4 D-dur - D major - Ré majeur BWV 828 (Ouverture, Allemande, Courante, Aria, Sarabande, Menuet, Gigue)
• Partita 5 G-dur - G major - Sol majeur BWV 829 (Praembulum, Allemande, Corrente, Sarabande, Tempo di minuetta, Passepied, Gigue)
• Partita 6 e-moll - e minor - mi mineur BWV 830 (Toccata, Allemande, Corrente, Air, Sarabande, Tempo di Gavotta, Gigue)

Each one of Bach’s six Partitas features seven great single movements, predominantly in the sequence: Präludium – Allemande – Courante – Sarabande – [two free dances] – Gigue. These partitas can justifiably be described as Bach’s “ultimate” cycle of suites. As regards the artistic and manual demands, it goes far beyond its “English” and “French” siblings that are also frequently played. It is no coincidence that Bach only had these six partitas printed (1731), and what is more as “Opus 1”.