Shrouded in wistfulness, all the movements of this Partita no. 2, here performed by Shunske Sato for All of Bach, are in a minor key.
Bach’s manuscript originates from 1720, the year in which he returned from a journey to the unexpected news that his wife, Maria Barbara, was dead and buried.
Even if Bach had already composed this partita, it is not hard to imagine that the music gained a whole different meaning for him after the death of his wife.
Recorded for the project All of Bach 24th June 2019 at the Lichtfabriek, Haarlem.
N°1 in C minor / c-moll / ut min (25:09) N°2 in E flat / Es-dur / Mi bémol Majeur (35:02) N°3 in G flat / Ges-dur / Sol bémol Majeur (40:43) N°4 in A flat / As-dur / La bémol Majeur (47:25)
Allegretto in C minor, D.915 (55:52)
c-moll / Ut mineur
Sonata in C minor / c-moll / Ut min, Op.posth. D.958
Allegro non troppo, ma energico (24:03) Andante con espressione (30:27) Scherzo - Allegro (35:46) Finale - Introduzione. Sostenuto.. Allegro non troppo e rubato (39:37)
Piano Sonata in F minor, Op.5
Allegro maestoso (51:48) Andanteespressivo (1:02:26) Scherzo - Allegro energico (1:16:12) Intermezzo - Andante molto (1:21:08) Finale - Allegro moderato ma rubato (1:25:23)
Variations & Fugue On A Theme By Handel, Op.24 (1:42:29) Variations On A Theme By Paganini, Op.35 Book 1 (2:11:35) Variations On A Theme By Paganini, Op.35 Book 2 (2:25:42)
Piano : Claudio Arrau
Stéréo recordings in 1971-73-74-77-78, at Germany, Great Britain & Netherlands
No.1 in B minor / Si mineur, Op.20 (00:00) No.2 in B flat minor / Si bémol mineur, Op.31 (11:23) No.3 in C sharp minor / Do dièse mineur, Op.39 (21:51) No.4 in E / Mi Majeur, Op.54 (29:56)
‘’Polonaise-Fantaisie’’ (42:03) Barcarolle in F sharp / Fa dièse Majeur, Op.60 (54:53) Fantasia in F minor / Fa mineur, Op.49 (1:04:37)
4 Ballades
No.1 in G minor / Sol mineur, Op.23 (1:16:56) No.2 in F / Fa Majeur, Op.38 (1:26:17) No.3 in A flat / La bémol Majeur, Op.47 (1:34:27) No.4 in F minor / Fa mineur, Op.52 (1:42:17)
Piano : Claudio Arrau
Stéréo recordings in 1977, 1980, 1984, at Netherlands/Switzerland/Germany