PlayPiano

Baroque · sarabande

Sarabande, Partita No. 3, BWV 827

Johann Sebastian Bach · Level 7, estimated · With Maestro

Practise it in PlayPiano

The short answer

A partita preserved in the Bach family music book. Sarabande, Partita No. 3, BWV 827 is a sarabande by Johann Sebastian Bach from the Baroque era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 7, an estimate.

On this page
  • sarabande
  • Baroque
  • gentle

Also known as J.S. Bach Partita No. 3 4. Sarabande; Sarabande: Partita No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827.

History

Sarabande, Partita No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827 is part of Bach's A-minor third keyboard Partita. The work appears in Anna Magdalena Bach's second notebook, begun in 1725, before its later publication as the third partita. A family music book and a printed edition preserve different stages in a work's life. The notebook year is evidence of that early setting, not proof that every movement was composed in 1725.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A pickup introduces decorated contours

    The short pickup leads into decorated rising and falling shapes. Hear the ornaments within the longer line.

  2. The first continuation grows higher

    The texture moves higher and becomes more active before the repeat. Follow its upward direction.

  3. Changed registers bring stronger gestures

    The second span changes register and strengthens its upper responses. Compare its energy with the decorated opening.

  4. Decoration leads into the closing chord

    Further decorated motion reaches an A-containing chord and repeat. Hear the smaller notes prepare the arrival.

How to practise it

Keep the upper gestures and replying lower figures recognisable.

  1. Practise the lower reply alone, then alternate attention between upper and lower gestures.
  2. Connect the examined opening at a comfortable tempo only when its separate layers feel settled.

How hard is it

Level 7, estimated

Ornamented upper gestures recur with inner and lower replies, including rests and shorter connecting notes. Voice recognition and timing the ornaments within the phrase are the central demands.

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

Keep the upper gestures and replying lower figures recognisable.

Practise it in PlayPiano