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Baroque · corrente

Corrente, Partita No. 1, BWV 825

Johann Sebastian Bach · Level 7, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

One movement from a partita first printed on its own. Corrente, Partita No. 1, BWV 825 is a piece by Johann Sebastian Bach from the Baroque era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 7, an estimate.

On this page
  • corrente
  • Baroque
  • dancing

Also known as Bach - Partita I: Corrente; Corrente: Partita No. 1 in B-flat major, BWV 825.

History

Corrente, Partita No. 1 in B-flat major, BWV 825 is a movement of Bach's first keyboard Partita. The partita first appeared in print in 1726 as the first work in a six-part series. Its historical keyboard context is the harpsichord, even though you can explore it on a piano today. The publication year belongs to the partita, rather than a separately dated composition story for this movement.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A pickup introduces recurring moving gestures

    The pickup starts recurring figures that shift register. Hear their common shape through the placement changes.

  2. Longer descents and climbs expand the line

    The continuation becomes broader through descending and climbing motion before the first repeat. Follow the longer direction across the smaller gestures.

  3. A related pickup begins a transformed half

    The second half starts with a related pickup and changed opening patterns. Recognise the rhythm while hearing the altered contour.

  4. Changed contours lead to an opening-like recall

    Successive changed shapes lead back to a B-flat-related opening gesture near the last repeat. Hear the recall within the longer continuation.

How to practise it

Coordinate the flowing upper groups with the uneven lower rhythm.

  1. Practise upper three-note groups while tapping the quarter-note pulse.
  2. Practise the lower rhythm slowly as rendered from this edition, then combine one larger beat at a time.
  3. Connect the examined opening at a comfortable tempo only when its separate layers feel settled.

How hard is it

Level 7, estimated

Upper eighth-note figures move against lower notes and intervening rests of different lengths. Coordinating those unequal patterns while retaining a larger pulse is the main opening demand.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Johann Sebastian Bach, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Licence
CC0
Source
musescore.com

More by Johann Sebastian Bach

  1. Prelude in C major, BWV 846Level 4, estimatedOpen to everyone
  2. Two-Part Invention No. 1 in C major, BWV 772Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
  3. Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971: III. PrestoLevel 9, estimatedWith Maestro

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Coordinate the flowing upper groups with the uneven lower rhythm.

Practise it in PlayPiano