The final and most ambitious work of Johann Sebastian Bach’s six Partitas for keyboard, Partita No. 6 in E Minor, BWV 830, is striking for its scope, solemnity, and extraordinary musical richness. Published in 1731 as part of Clavier-Übung, it opens with a sweeping, virtuosic Toccata, before launching into a series of dances with contrasting characters, from the poignant Sarabande to the dazzling final Gigue. With his six Partitas, Bach elevates the art of the keyboard suite to new heights of refinement and invention, offering both performers and listeners music that is as sophisticated as it is deeply expressive.
Watch the finest performances of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Partita for Keyboard No. 6 in E Minor, BWV 830, on medici.tv
The Partita for Keyboard No. 6 in E Minor, BWV 830, is the final and most ambitious work of the six Partitas that Johann Sebastian Bach composed for the harpischord. First published separately in Leipzig between 1726 and 1730, these six partitas appeared together in 1731 under the title Clavier-Übung, labelled “Opus 1” by the composer himself. This was the cantor’s very first printed publication under his own name. Partita No. 6 in E Minor stands out for its grandeur and solemnity, which are more pronounced than in the previous five works. It opens with a long Toccata in several sections, which — in Anna Magdalena Bach’s Petits livres de notes — was still a simple Prelude: this virtuosic piece featured improvised passages alternating with fugal writing and evoked the art of Buxtehude, from whom the young Bach drew inspiration. A richly ornamented Allemande follows suit, as does a lively Courante, a brief Air, a Sarabande of rare expressive intensity, a lighter Tempo di Gavotta, and finally a Gigue of formidable contrapuntal complexity. An interesting fact: the Courante and Tempo di Gavotta already existed in a similar form in an early version of the Sonata in E Minor for Violin and Obbligato Harpsichord, BWV 1019 (which was later revised and is now most often performed in its G Major version), proving that Bach did not hesitate to reuse and rework his own musical material.
Watch the finest performances of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Partita for Keyboard No. 6 in E Minor, BWV 830, on medici.tv
The Partita for Keyboard No. 6 in E Minor, BWV 830, is the final and most ambitious work of the six Partitas that Johann Sebastian Bach composed for the harpischord. First published separately in Leipzig between 1726 and 1730, these six partitas appeared together in 1731 under the title Clavier-Übung, labelled “Opus 1” by the composer himself. This was the cantor’s very first printed publication under his own name. Partita No. 6 in E Minor stands out for its grandeur and solemnity, which are more pronounced than in the previous five works. It opens with a long Toccata in several sections, which — in Anna Magdalena Bach’s Petits livres de notes — was still a simple Prelude: this virtuosic piece featured improvised passages alternating with fugal writing and evoked the art of Buxtehude, from whom the young Bach drew inspiration. A richly ornamented Allemande follows suit, as does a lively Courante, a brief Air, a Sarabande of rare expressive intensity, a lighter Tempo di Gavotta, and finally a Gigue of formidable contrapuntal complexity. An interesting fact: the Courante and Tempo di Gavotta already existed in a similar form in an early version of the Sonata in E Minor for Violin and Obbligato Harpsichord, BWV 1019 (which was later revised and is now most often performed in its G Major version), proving that Bach did not hesitate to reuse and rework his own musical material.
Listen to Bach’s Partita for Keyboard No. 6 in E Minor, BWV 830, on medici.tv
medici.tv, the largest streaming video catalog of classical music, is the perfect place to explore Johann Sebastian Bach’s keyboard works! With over 4500 films available, our catalog features concerts, piano recitals, and masterclasses dedicated to the composer, showcasing great pianists and harpsichordists from the past and present. On this page, discover performances of the Partita for Keyboard No. 6 in E Minor, BWV 830, available on medici.tv. To delve deeper into this masterpiece of Baroque music, explore our playlist dedicated to Johann Sebastian Bach’s most beautiful works!