Which Bach Partita is Approachable?

[George K]

I am a returning intermediate student (at the age of 54). I stopped playing for about 30 years! Since arriving at my advanced age, I have  developed a love for Bach.  I started (once again) taking lessons about 6 months ago,  and I have the itch to learn one of the Bach partitas. The question is, which one is do-able for my level.

In the last 6 months, I have learned (by no means mastered!) the WTC Book 1 preludes and fugues in C major and minor. Am currently working on the G-minor from book 1. I was (questionably) facile with the Rach C# minor prelude and Liszt's Liebestraum.

Any suggestions which one I should tackle?

(Sheet Music Plus had a sale on Henle editions, and I took advantage!)

Thanks in advance,


George

[sharon_f]

G major and B-flat are probably the least difficult technically of the Partitas. (Not that any of them are easy!) The B-flat ends with a wonderful Gigue with a lot of crossing over of hands and is terrific fun to play.

My favorite is the C minor, which is a bit more difficult .Very dramatic and very beautiful.

So which one to start with?

I say learn the one you love most.

[ahmedito]

Why dont you attempt to learn them all simultaneously? Pick individual movements from each partita and work up to the most dificult ones. That way you will have individual pieces in your repertoire which you can slowly build up into cycles. Glenn Gould constantly played only individual pieces from the partitas making different groupings and cycles when playing in public.

[George K]

Why dont you attempt to learn them all simultaneously? Pick individual movements from each partita and work up to the most dificult ones.

Can you suggest where to begin? Which are the easier movements?

Thanks,


George

[bernhard]

Can you suggest where to begin? Which are the easier movements?

Thanks,


George

Grades for the partitas: (ABRSM standard: 1- easy; 8 – advanced – all subjective). I have underlined the easiest movements. Yours is a great and worthwhile pursuit, these pieces are superb, go for it! . I hope this helps.

Partita no. 1 in Bb:

Praeludium – grade 8
Allemande – grade 6
Courante – grade 7
Sarabande – grade 6         
Menuet I & II – grade 5
Gigue – Grade 8

Partita no. 2:

Sinfonia – grade 8+
Allemande – grade 8
Courante – grade 8
Sarabande – grade 6
Rondeau – grade 7
Capriccio – grade 7

Partita no. 3 in Am:

Fantasia – grade 8
Allemande – grade 8
Courante – grade 7
Sarabande – grade 7
Burlesca – grade 7
Scherzo – grade 6
Gigue – grade 8

Partita no. 4 in D:

Ouverture – grade 8
Allemande – grade 8
Courante – grade 7
Aria – grade 5
Sarabande – grade 6
Menuet – grade 6
Gigue – grade 8

Partita no. 5

Praeambulum – grade 7
Allemande – grade 8
Courante – grade 7
Sarabande – grade 8
Tempo di Minuetto – grade 5
Passepied – grade 7
Gigue – grade 8
                               
Partita no. 6 in Em:

Toccata – grade 8+
Allemande – grade 8
Courante – grade 8
Air – grade 5
Sarabande – grade 8+
Tempo di Gavotta – grade 7
Gigue – grade 8

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[George K]

Grades for the partitas: (ABRSM standard: 1- easy; 8 – advanced – all subjective). I have underlined the easiest movements. Yours is a great and worthwhile pursuit, these pieces are superb, go for it! . I hope this helps.

Whoa! Thank you so much Bernhard! It's interesting to see myself coming back to the piano after 30+ years. When I was younger, all I wanted to learn was Lizst (Liebestraum) and Rachmaninoff (the C# minor and G minor preluded).

Now, all I want to do is play Bach. I'm working on the G-minor P & F from book 1 of WTC and

LOVING IT!

Thanks again,


George

[LVB op.57]

(Sheet Music Plus had a sale on Henle editions, and I took advantage!)

That makes two of us!

[Egghead]

Whoa! Thank you so much Bernhard! It's interesting to see myself coming back to the piano after 30+ years. When I was younger, all I wanted to learn was Lizst (Liebestraum) and Rachmaninoff (the C# minor and G minor preluded).

LOVING IT!

Thanks again,
George

George: what a fantastic thread! Let us know how you are getting on.
Bernhard: thanks for a very encouraging list. 

Now, all I want to do is play Bach.

Oh dear, this makes me feel old (I am almost there already...) What comes after Bach, I wonder - what do people want to play at age 90, you think?
Egghead

[pies]

the courante of partita no. 6 is nice.