Partita for Violin No. 2 (Bach)
The Partita in D minor for solo violin (BWV 1004) by Johann Sebastian Bach was written during the period 1717–1723 and some scholars suggest it was written in memory of Bach's first wife, Maria Barbara Bach. The partita contains five movements:
A strong common theme is shared between the first four movements. In the Allemande, there is a hint at the repeated bass, which from then on continues to haunt the piece until it makes its full appearance in the Ciaconna. While the first four movements reflect the standard German baroque dance suite, the overall dark character of the partita is enhanced by the monumental Ciaccona which closes the work.
Notable recordings of the Partita have been made by Henryk Szeryng, Nathan Milstein, Arthur Grumiaux, Arnold Steinhardt, Gidon Kremer, Jascha Heifetz, Yehudi Menuhin and Sigiswald Kuijken.
The ciaccona
The ciaccona (commonly known as Chaconne in English), the concluding movement of the partita in D minor, lasts some 11 to 14 minutes, surpassing the duration of the previous movements combined. Despite its disproportional relationship to the rest of the suite, it merits the emphasis given it by musicians and composers alike. The theme, presented in the first four measures in typical chaconne rhythm with a chord progression based on the repeated bass note pattern D | D, C♯ | D, B♭ | G, A | D, begets the rest of the movement in a series of variations. The overall form divides into three large sections, the middle of which is in major mode.
This ciaccona is considered a pinnacle of the solo violin repertoire in that it covers practically every aspect of violin-playing known during Bach's time and thus it is among the most difficult pieces to play for that instrument. Since Bach's time, several different transcriptions of the piece have been made for other instruments, particularly for the piano (by Ferruccio Busoni) and for piano/left-hand (by Brahms), as well as for the guitar, including the pioneering transcription of Andrés Segovia. At least three transcriptions have been published for organ solo. An arrangement for full orchestra (1930) was famously recorded by Leopold Stokowski.
The Chaconne is commonly included as a required repertoire piece in violin competitions all over the world.
See also
External links
- A transcription of the Urtext of Bach's Chaconne (PDF)
- Analysis of the Bach Chaconne
- Easybyte - free piano arrangement of "Chaconne BWV 1004 / Second Theme Excerpt" plus midi sound file
- Heifetz playing chaconne from Partita no. 2 part I
- Heifetz playing chaconne from Partita no.2 part II
- Partita No. 2 (complete), played on electric bass by Dave Grossman
Bibliography
Thoene, Helga. C I A C C O N A Tanz oder Tombeau? (C I A C C O N A Dance or Tombeau?, In German), 2005. ISBN 3-935358-60-1