Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 07/08/2015, uploaded on 04/09/2016

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

    1. Ouverture
    2. Allemande
    3. Courante
    4. Aria
    5. Sarabande
    6. Menuet
    7. Gigue

J.S. Bach, the quintessential composer of counterpoint, was mainly a self-taught artist. He developed a life-long, meticulous habit of studying, copying and diligently modeling his works after creations of other composers. As a result of this obsessive pattern of learning, Bach became well-versed with the musical trends from all over Europe, transforming this knowledge into a coherent force to create something new, unique and perhaps far greater. His compositions embodied intricate counterpoint that none of his contemporaries could surpass. The Six Partitas are indeed an example of this pan-European sound and a truly mature illustration of Bach's signature keyboard style. At age 46, Bach self-published the set as “Opus 1.” The D Major Partita in particular consists of an introductory movement in the style of French Ouverture, the standard four-movement dance suite: Allemande-Courante-Sarabande-Gigue, and the two additional galanteries, Aria and Menuet.    Notes by Ling-Ju Lai

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.