Hyperion Records | Bach J S: Six Partitas

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CDA67191/2

Buy? £26.98

Recording details: Various dates
Beethovensaal, Hannover, Germany
Produced by Various producers
Engineered by Various engineers
Release date: April 1997
Total duration: 142 minutes 29 seconds
Available for download on iTunes: Yes

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GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE

'One of the outstanding Bach pianists of our time, her playing of the great Partitas is something very special indeed. She is formidably equipped for this demanding music – technically, musically, intellectually. These are discs to play again and again and marvel at the artistry' (The Sunday Times)

'Effortlessly eclipsing all competition … the whole disc gives unalloyed pleasure; definitely one of my choices of the year' (Gramophone)

'Everything has been deeply considered. Everything works. Hewitt makes a beautiful, limpid sound; her ornaments are exquisitely precise as well as sounding natural; she uses the subtle shadings and variations of volume possible on the piano without swamping the music. Technically the paying is faultless ... superbly poised, light and joyous. Indeed, that would sum up the entire set' (Classic CD)

'Hyperion gives us something to treasure here. I recommend this set without reservation' (Radio Eireann, Ireland)

'Pouvait-on imaginer Bach aussi limineux, brillant? … Un exercice 'parfait', à écouter et é réécouter pour un savourer toute la puissance, toute l'éloquence (Répertoire, France)

'For this pair of discs only superlatives will do. Replete with inventiveness at its most outstanding. My appreciation of this Canadian pianist is enormous; I classify her among the top performers of our time' (Soundscapes, Australia)

'Une interprète qui mérite d'être suivi avec la plus grand attention' (Diapason, France)

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Six Partitas

Angela Hewitt (piano)

		Partita No 1 in B flat major, BWV825
CD1	1	Movement 1: Praeludium [1:49]
	2	Movement 2: Allemande [3:04]
	3	Movement 3: Corrente [3:13]
	4	Movement 4: Sarabande [4:32]
	5	Movement 5: Menuet I – Menuet II – Menuet I da capo [3:08]
	6	Movement 6: Giga [2:10]
		Partita No 2 in C minor, BWV826
	7	Movement 1: Sinfonia. Grave adagio – Andante – [Allegro] [4:35]
	8	Movement 2: Allemande [4:27]
	9	Movement 3: Courante [2:28]
	10	Movement 4: Sarabande [3:16]
	11	Movement 5: Rondeaux [1:39]
	12	Movement 6: Capriccio [3:40]
		Partita No 4 in D major, BWV828
	13	Movement 1: Ouverture – [Allegro] [6:28]
	14	Movement 2: Allemande [8:35]
	15	Movement 3: Courante [3:42]
	16	Movement 4: Aria [2:17]
	17	Movement 5: Sarabande [5:47]
	18	Movement 6: Menuet [1:31]
	19	Movement 7: Gigue [3:58]
		Partita No 3 in A minor, BWV827
CD2	1	Movement 1: Fantasia [2:04]
	2	Movement 2: Allemande [2:57]
	3	Movement 3: Corrente [3:09]
	4	Movement 4: Sarabande [3:56]
	5	Movement 5: Burlesca [2:17]
	6	Movement 6: Scherzo [1:10]
	7	Movement 7: Gigue [3:19]
		Partita No 5 in G major, BWV829
	8	Movement 1: Praeambulum [2:17]
	9	Movement 2: Allemande [4:01]
	10	Movement 3: Corrente [1:54]
	11	Movement 4: Sarabande [4:58]
	12	Movement 5: Tempo di Minuetta [1:42]
	13	Movement 6: Passepied [1:53]
	14	Movement 7: Gigue [4:02]
		Partita No 6 in E minor, BWV830
	15	Movement 1: Toccata – [Fugue] [7:11]
	16	Movement 2: Allemande [3:27]
	17	Movement 3: Corrente [4:48]
	18	Movement 4: Air [1:34]
	19	Movement 5: Sarabande [7:24]
	20	Movement 6: Tempo di Gavotta [2:03]
	21	Movement 7: Gigue [6:04]

Astonishingly, the Six Partitas for Clavier were the first works Bach published – after more than twenty years of composing. 'Opus 1' (as he called it) was 'offered to music lovers in order to refresh their spirits' and the works scored an immediate hit, becoming core repertoire for keyboard players both professional and amateur.

'Partita' is simply another name for a suite of dance movements, and each of these collections combines grace, agility and sprightliness with a nobleness of spirit which makes them not only accessible and attractive, but also worthy in every way of their position in the Clavierübung – Bach's own summation of his compositional skills.