Bach: Partita for keyboard No. 2 | Martha Argerich, piano

Johann Sebastian Bach's Partita No. 2 in C minor (BWV 826) is played by Martha Argerich on the grand piano. In the last movement of Bach's 2nd Partita, the “Capriccio,” Argerich transforms the demanding baroque piano piece into swing music. The audience's reaction: rapturous applause and shouts of “Bravo!” at the concert at the Verbier Festival on July 22, 2008.

00:00 Applause
00:11 I. Sinfonia
04:32 II. Allemande
08:51 III. Courante
11:04 IV. Sarabande
14:35 V. Rondo
15:53 VI. Capriccio

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) published the Partita No. 2 in C minor (BWV 826) in 1727. In terms of form, the 2nd Partita for a solo keyboard instrument is a six-movement suite. In the Baroque period, the suite was a popular instrumental genre consisting of several movements. The movements were usually based on dances in the style of different countries. A common basic scheme for baroque suites was the sequence of the dances Allemande (from Germany), Courante (from France), Sarabande (from Spain) and Gigue (from England). All pieces were usually in the same key, but their characters and tempi were varied.

Bach's Partita No. 2 for keyboard opens with a three-part sinfonia: a dramatic and meaningful overture is followed by a playful prelude (01:06) and concludes with a fugue for three voices (03:01). Despite its compact form, this Sinfonia is multifaceted and demands great technical skill from the pianist. With the following movements of Allemande, Courante and Sarabande, Bach follows the typical Baroque scheme of a suite. Instead of a concluding Gigue, however, he uses two other movements: a Rondo and a Capriccio. Both forms were also referred to as “gallantries,” which were intended to create surprise and relaxation within a suite.

The Partita in C minor is the second piece in a series of six partitas (BWV 825 - 830), which Bach published in 1731 under the title “Clavier-Übung 1.” Bach himself described the series as his Opus 1, which he wrote for piano lovers for the enjoyment of the mind. The first “Clavier-Übung” was followed by three further collections of pieces for keyboard instruments. The four “Clavier-Übung” contain all the genres and compositional methods common during Bach's lifetime. Each of the individual pieces is very demanding. Bach had set new standards in keyboard playing technique with this compendium, which was well thought out in every respect.

© 2008 Idéale Audience

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