This is the last of Bachâs sets of keyboard suites, written in Leipzig. They were published singly beginning in 1726.
A new partita appeared each year thereafter until 1731, when the whole collection was issued under the name of Clavierübung I.
Like the English Suites, the Partitas all begin with a prelude of some sort; however, while in the earlier collection this is always a ritornello-type movement (except in the first suite), the first movements of the partitas are in various forms: a fantasia, an ouverture, a toccata etc.
Despite the fact that he had already composed hundreds of cantatas, the Well-Tempered Clavier, the great Passions and many other works, the Partitas were Bach´s first published body of works.
