Yehudi Menuhin plays Bach – Partita No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006

🎼 General overview

Feature Details

Composer Johann Sebastian Bach
Work Partita No. 3 for Solo Violin in E major, BWV 1006
Composed c. 1720, Köthen period (same time as the Sonatas and Partitas BWV 1001–1006)
Structure 6 dance movements
Tuning Standard tuning (E A D G)
Duration ~16–18 minutes
Style High Baroque – elegant, dance-based, and virtuosic but very structured


Bach wrote six works for unaccompanied violin — three Sonatas (BWV 1001, 1003, 1005) and three Partitas (BWV 1002, 1004, 1006).
Partita No. 3 is the brightest and most brilliant of them.


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🎵 Movements

No. Movement Tempo / Form Character & Notes

1️⃣ Preludio Allegro – toccata-like A dazzling perpetual-motion piece; rapid broken chords and string crossings. Often used as an independent concert opener or encore.
2️⃣ Loure Moderate, dotted rhythm A noble French dance with a lilting pulse. Graceful and expressive after the intensity of the Preludio.
3️⃣ Gavotte en Rondeau Allegro moderato One of Bach’s most famous violin movements — lively, catchy theme returning between contrasting episodes (ABACA form).
4️⃣ Menuet I & II Moderate Two elegant minuets; Menuet II in minor key provides contrast before returning to Menuet I.
5️⃣ Bourrée Vivace Light and joyous dance with rhythmic drive. Short and charming.
6️⃣ Gigue Allegro Spirited closing dance, full of rapid triplets and bouncing bow strokes. Ends the Partita with pure brilliance.



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🎻 Technique & musical challenges

String crossings and continuous semiquavers (Preludio)

Detaché bow control and spiccato articulation (Gigue, Bourrée)

Rhythmic precision in dotted Loure and Gavotte

Multiple stops and voice-leading clarity despite one instrument

Interpretive contrast between French dance styles (refined phrasing, elegant tempo flexibility)



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🎶 Arrangements & influence

Bach himself later transcribed the Preludio for organ and orchestra in Cantata 29 (Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir).

Also arranged for lute (BWV 1006a) — with added bass lines.

The Gavotte en Rondeau became world-famous after performances by Heifetz, Menuhin, Perlman, and even used in pop culture and media (e.g., TV, radio themes).



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💽 Notable recordings

Violinist Recording Highlights

Jascha Heifetz Electrifying, virtuosic brilliance
Nathan Milstein Noble phrasing, golden tone
Hilary Hahn Crystal-clear articulation, balance of structure & emotion
Henryk Szeryng Scholarly yet expressive interpretation
Isabelle Faust Historically informed performance, gut-string sound

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🧠 Summary

Aspect Description

Mood Joyful, radiant, celebratory
Difficulty High – advanced bow control, clarity, endurance
Famous movements Preludio & Gavotte en Rondeau
Historical importance Model of Baroque dance suite and polyphonic writing for solo viol