Girolamo
Frescobaldi (1583–1643) wrote keyboard partitas as variations that were based on popular dance melodies of the early Baroque period such the R
omannesca, La Monachina, Ruggiero, and
La Follio. Johann Kuhnau (1660–1722) wrote 14 suites that were called
Partien (French
partie, meaning 'part'). His
ClavierÜbung I contained seven suites in the major keys C, D, E, F, G, A, and B-flat. His
ClavierÜbung II contained seven suites in the minor keys C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Each suite (partita) had an opening prelude. Kuhnau also wrote the partita (Italian)
Sechs musicalische Partien in 1697. The most prolific composer of partitas for
harpsichord was
Christoph Graupner (1683-1760), whose works in the form number 57. The first set was published in 1718 and dedicated to his patron
Ernest Louis, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt. The last of
his partitas exist in manuscripts dated 1750. They are difficult and virtuosic pieces which exhibit an astonishing variety of musical styles. Finished in 2016, Shoah for Solo Violin and Sacred Temple by
Jorge Grundman (b. 1961) is the longest partita composed, lasting an hour and a half. == Johann Sebastian Bach ==