partita - Source
In music of the Baroque period, one of a set of instrumental variations (partite), such as Bach's Partite diverse on the chorale melody O Gott, du frommer Gott; or a set of instrumental dances, such as Bach's three partitas for violin and six for keyboard.
Partita was originally the name for a single instrumental piece of music (16th and 17th centuries), but Johann Kuhnau and later German composers (notably Johann Sebastian Bach) used it for collections of musical pieces, as a synonym for suite. One additional suite in B minor, the Overture in the French Style (often simply called French Overture) is sometimes also considered a Partita (see French Suites). See Partitas for keyboard (825–830)
Bach also wrote three partitas for solo violin in 1720 which he paired with sonatas. See Sonatas and partitas for solo violin (1001-1006)
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