Partita for Violin No. 3 (Bach)


The Partita No. 3 in E major for solo violin, BWV 1006.1, is the last work in Johann Sebastian Bach's set of Six Sonatas and Partitas. It consists of the following movements:
  1. Preludio
  2. Loure
  3. Gavotte en Rondeau
  4. Menuets
  5. Bourrée
  6. Gigue
It takes about 20 minutes to perform.
Bach transcribed the Partita as a Suite, cataloged as BWV 1006.2. The organist claimed in 1900 that this arrangement was for lute solo, but present research indicates that it was for an unspecified instrument.
The most commonly found recordings are usually of the Preludio. The Preludio consists almost entirely of semiquavers. The Preludio was also transcribed by Bach for use in two cantatas:
The "Gavotte en Rondeau" is famously included on the Voyager Golden Record and often heard in TV or radio programs.
In 1933 Sergei Rachmaninoff transcribed for piano the Preludio, Gavotte, and Giga from this partita.