The six Partitas were composed between 1726 and 1730, and first published in 1731 in a collection marked Opus 1 (as this was Bach's first published opus). Suites of popular dance movements like the Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue, etc. were common and popular at the time, but Bach's auspicious 'debut' transcends everything that was so far done in this area, and has never been parallelled since, except perhaps by Bach's own French and English Suites.The subtitle Clavichord Practice (Clavier Übung) should be understood in a musical rather than pedagogical sense, for these are works of the highest musicality and virtuosity. According to the Bach biographer J.N. Forkel, these works made a big impact on the musical scene of the time. "Never before had such excellent compositions for the clavier been seen or heard. Anyone who had learnt to perform well some pieces out of them, could make his fortune in the world thereby". The Partitas soon gained a reputation for their technical demands, and even now, they are the prerogative of only the greatest of keyboard players.
The set of Partitas were later included as part I of an even more ambitious project, the Clavier Übung (four sets of keyboard pieces for harpsichord and organ, containing besides the Partitas, the Italian Concerto, French Ouverture, Goldberg Variations, and organ works).
Partita No.1 in B-flat major, BWV.825
Complete recording by Bertoglio, C.
| 1 | BWV 825 | Prelude | 1:57 |
| 2 | BWV 825 | Allemande | 3:09 |
| 3 | BWV 825 | Courante | 2:43 |
| 4 | BWV 825 | Sarabande | 5:02 |
| 5 | BWV 825 | Minuets I. II. | 2:27 |
| 6 | BWV 825 | Gigue | 2:46 |
Complete recording by Ken Sasaki.
| 1 | BWV 825 | Prelude | 1:39 |
| 2 | BWV 825 | Allemande | 1:12 |
| 3 | BWV 825 | Courante | 1:24 |
| 4 | BWV 825 | Sarabande | 3:06 |
| 5 | BWV 825 | Minuets I. & II. | 2:44 |
| 6 | BWV 825 | Gigue | 2:28 |
Complete recording by Gan, W.M..
| 1 | BWV 825 | Prelude | 1:53 |
| 2 | BWV 825 | Allemande | 2:06 |
| 3 | BWV 825 | Courante | 2:05 |
| 4 | BWV 825 | Sarabande | 2:27 |
| 5 | BWV 825 | Minuets I. & II. | 2:27 |
| 6 | BWV 825 | Gigue | 1:42 |
| 6 | BWV 825 | Gigue | 2:34 | Rebecq, H. |
Partita No.2 in C minor, BWV.826
| 1 | BWV 826 | Sinfonia | 4:58 | Weigl, P. |
| 2 | BWV 826 | Allemande | 4:03 | Weigl, P. |
Partita No.4 in D major, BWV.828
Complete recording by Gregorio Szames
| 1 | BWV
828 | Ouverture | 5:47 |
| 2 | BWV 828 | Allemande | 5:27 |
| 3 | BWV 828 | Courante | 3:21 |
| 4 | BWV 828 | Aria | 1:31 |
| 5 | BWV 828 | Sarabande | 5:26 |
| 6 | BWV 828 | Menuett | 1:28 |
| 7 | BWN 828 | Gigue | 3:22 |
Partita No.5 in G major, BWV.829
Complete recording by Andrew Sheffield.
| 1 | BWV 829 | Praeambulum | 02:05 |
| 2 | BWV 829 | Allemande | 04:20 |
| 3 | BWV 829 | Corrente | 01:46 |
| 4 | BWV 829 | Sarabande | 05:22 |
| 5 | BWV 829 | Tempo di Minuetta | 02:25 |
| 6 | BWV 829 | Passepied | 01:47 |
| 7 | BWV 829 | Gigue | 04:20 |
| 2 | BWV 829 | Allemande | 2:11 | Anzaldua, A. |
| 3 | BWV 829 | Corrente | 0:55 | Anzaldua, A. |
| 4 | BWV 829 | Sarabande | 2:24 | Anzaldua, A. |
| 5 | BWV 829 | Tempo di Minuetta | 1:14 | Anzaldua, A. |
| 6 | BWV 829 | Passepied | 1:11 | Anzaldua, A. |
Partita No.5 in G major, BWV.829
| 1 | BWV 829 | Preambulum | 2:38 | Kopp, S. |
| 6 | BWV 829 | Passepied | 1:45 | Kopp, S. |
Partita No.6 in E minor, BWV.830
| 1 | BWV 830 | Toccata | 8:50 | Carnevale, R. |
Partita No.6 in E minor, BWV.830
Complete recording by Felipe Sarro
| 1 | BWV 830 | Toccata | 10:05 |
| 2 | BWV 830 | Allemande | 03:43 |
| 3 | BWV 830 | Courante | 05:11 |
| 4 | BWV 830 | Air | 01:23 |
| 5 | BWV 830 | Sarabande | 07:15 |
| 6 | BWV 830 | Tempo di Gavotta | 01:56 |
| 7 | BWV 830 | Gigue | 06:23 |
