Bach: Keyboard Partita No. 3 in A Minor, BWV 827 ( Blechacz, Anderszewski)

Bachs 3rd Keyboard Partita isnt often programmed and isnt particularly wellknown, perhaps because its mood of gentle restlessness is less immediately striking than what you find in the other 5 partitas. Yet its a wonderful set. It opens with a little gem of a Fantasia a 2part invention thats a model of intelligently deployed imitative counterpoint, descending sequences, and contrary motion. It looks unassuming on paper, yet its strangely moving in a way thats hard to articulate. An elegant Allemande follows, and a perky Corrente with delicious dotted rhythms. The Sarabande is a strangely orchestral thing, and sounds almost like a transcribed triosonata. The use of triplet semiquavers gives it a murmuring, introspective air. The Burlesca is a taut and rather funny thing note its Scarlattiesque use of parallel 4ths, and the descending run in octaves at 13:29. The Scherzo the only piece Bach ever gave this title to is a dramatic and fleetfooted, full of Vivaldilike energy. The closing Gigue