They were, however, among the last of his keyboard suites to be composed, the others being the six English Suites, BWV 806-811 and the six French Suites, BWV 812-817, as well as the Overture in the French style, BWV 831.

As with the French and English Suites, the autograph manuscript of the Partitas is no longer extant.

In comparison with the two earlier sets of suites, the Partitas are by far the most free-ranging in terms of structure.

Unlike the English Suites, for example, wherein each opens with a strict prelude, the Partitas feature a number of different opening styles including an ornamental Overture and a Toccata.

The plan was then revised to include a total of eight works: six Partitas in Part I (1731) and two larger works in Part II (1735), the Italian Concerto, BWV 971, and the Overture in the French style, BWV 831.

The second of these is an eleven-movement partita, the largest such keyboard work Bach ever composed, and may in fact be the elusive seventh partita mentioned in 1730.

The Overture in the French style was originally written in C minor, but was transposed a half step down for publication to complete the tonal scheme of Parts I and II as described below.

Thus this sequence of tonalities customary for 18th-century keyboard compositions is complete, beginning with the first letter of his name (B in German is Bachs home key of B ) and ending with the last letter (H in German is B ) while including both A and C along the way.

By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

Bach In G Minor