The Partita No. 1 in B minor BWV 1002 by Johann Sebastian Bach, is a piece for solo violin composed in 1720. This partita is formed in 17th Century style with doubles (repeats with diminutions) in which it consists of an Allemanda+Double, a Corrente+Double, Sarabande+Double and Tempo di Borea+Double in the baroque style. The four movements in order are:

History

It was written in his early days, when hoping for a church position, but heard by Duke Johann Ernst who offered him a position as court musician. It is also believed he may have been influenced by Paul von Westhoff while he was in Weimar while solo violin repertoire was growing in popularity judging by the number of pieces composed at that time by fellow composers. Before exploring solo work, Bach had focused mainly on chamber music during his time in Leipzig where trio sonatas were composed quickly and grouped by of similar styles of composition. His son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach attests to this in his later work and findings of his father’s work. The said partita officially dates, though, from his Cöthen years, after his chamber music period when he decided to explore a style without basso continuo of any sort.

See also

• Sonatas and partitas for solo violin (Bach)