Flute Alone
  • Home
  • Rebecca Cochran
  • Public Appearances
  • Listen
  • Contact / Bookings
  • News
  • My Year of Bach

Partitas

8/23/2016

 
by Rebecca Cochran
 
Bach’s Partitas (or suites) for harpsichord (BWV 825-830) were published under his own direction from 1726-1730. Though technically demanding, Bach dedicated these works to “music lovers, for the delight of their spirits.”
 
The keys of these six Partitas (B-flat major, C minor, A minor, D major, G major, E minor) are not as random as they may, at first, seem. They actually form a careful sequence of ascending and descending intervals, starting with the key of B-flat, representing the first letter (in German) of Bach’s name. The progression continues, moving up a second (B-flat to C), down a third (C to A), up a fourth (A to D), down a fifth (D to G) and, finally, up a sixth (G to E).
 
And, somehow, despite the technical demands and somewhat formulaic method of key selection, the Partitas represent some of Bach’s most free-ranging and expressive works for keyboard.

Enjoy this video of pianist, András Schiff in a live performance of Partita No. 2 in C minor (BWV 826).

Comments are closed.

    My Year of Bach.

    This is an experiment.
    I love Bach: listening to Bach; playing Bach (alone or with others); discovering Bach; learning from Bach; sharing Bach.

    ​I need Bach in my daily life.

    ​So, for 2016, I'm challenging myself to write a short daily post about Bach. Come along for the ride, if you're so inclined. Let's listen, share and learn together!

    Archives

    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    Agile
    Alto
    Arnold Steinhardt
    Bach In The Subways Day
    Badinerie
    Brandenburg Concertos
    Canon
    Cantatas
    Chaconne
    Design Thinking
    Escher
    Fugue
    Goldberg
    Jacques Loussier
    J.S. Bach Foundation
    Louis Moyse
    Moyse Trio
    Musical Offering
    Orchestral Suites
    Partita
    Play Bach Trio
    Third Stream
    Trio Sonata
    Well Tempered Clavier

    RSS Feed