*** 2x Vinyl LPs ***

Bach published during his lifetime four volumes of keyboard pieces under the title Clavierübung, which began with a set of six Partitas, published between 1726 and 1731. The first of the set was the Partita no.1 in B flat major. The Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor was apparently written during Bach’s time at Cöthen, probably about 1720, and revised in Leipzig about 1730. The six English Suites, the Third being included here, have nothing particularly English about them, except their title. They were written perhaps in Weimar in about 1715 or possibly during Bach’s period at Cöthen. Bach brought together a set of five French Suites, of which the Fifth is Idil Biret’s favourite, later augmented to six and forming part of the Clavierbüchlein for Anna Magdalena, his second wife. The Italian Concerto in F major was published in 1735 in the second volume of the Clavierübungen, with the original title Concerto nach Italienischen Gusto. It reflects the style of the Venetian solo concertos by Vivaldi.