Flute Partita in A Minor

Flute Partita in A Minor

BWV 1013 performed by Marten Root
Oude Dorpskerk, Bunnik

  • Menu
  • 1. Allemande
  • 2. Courante
  • 3. Sarabande
  • 4. English Bourrée

Behind the music

Story
Story
Extra videos
Extra videos
Credits
Credits

Only for flute

Whereas violinists and cellists have six suites, flautists have to make do with one

This suite is Bach’s only known work for flute solo. The piece consists of four stylised dances. The Allemande is directly reminiscent of the cello suites and violin partitas, so this piece probably originated in the same period, namely Bach’s years at the court in Köthen. When Bach was still working in Weimar, he met the French flautist Pierre Gabriel Buffardin on a visit to Dresden. His playing undoubtedly inspired Bach, who wrote this suite with him in mind.

At this time, the flute was still very much under development. Flutes could consist of three or four different parts and sometimes had extra extensions, which were interchangeable connecting pieces that varied in length, called corps de rechange. A flute was therefore not just one instrument, but actually a kit of several pieces that made up a variety of lengths, allowing the flautist to play in different keys.

This suite lets the flautist show off all his techniques: rapid fingering changes, big leaps and little time to catch his breath. The piece ranges from the lowest possible note to the glorious high A at the end of the Allemande. It is also has a Sarabande, which has to be played slowly and expressively. After all, according to the most famous player in Germany, Johann Joachim Quantz, not only did a flautist have to “get his lips, tongue and fingers in the right place”, but he also had to “develop his taste”. 

BWV
1013
Title
Partita for traverso in A minor
Epithet
Solo pour la Flûte traversière par J.S. Bach
Instrument
traverso
Genre
chamber music
Year
ca. 1717-1723?
City
Köthen?
Special notes
The manuscript copy is written at the end of a collective manuscript which contains a complete copy of the Sonatas and Partitas for violin solo, BWV 1001-1006. The heading seems to read: Solo pour la Flûte traversière par J.S. Bach. The copyist of the violin works is probably Emanuel Leberecht Gottschalck.

Extra videos

Flute player Marten Root

“It's technically difficult but that could be just psychological, because there is only one work by Bach for flute solo.”

Vocal texts

Original

Translation

Credits

  • Release date
    14 October 2016
  • Recording date
    28 November 2015
  • Location
    Oude Dorpskerk, Bunnik
  • Flute player
    Marten Root
  • Traverso
    Fridtjof Aurin after Pierre Naust, ca. 1700
  • Director
    Jonas Sacks
  • Music recording
    Guido Tichelman, Bastiaan Kuijt
  • Camera
    Jonas Sacks, Ype Poortinga
  • Gaffer
    Ype Poortinga
  • Music edit and mix
    Guido Tichelman
  • Audio post processing interview
    Chris Everts
  • Production
    Imke Deters

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