Klarinet Archive - Posting 000314.txt from 2005/04

From: Tony Pay <tony.p@-----.org>
Subj: RE: [kl] Precisely what is a "partita"?
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 12:53:58 -0400

On 20 Apr, ormo2ndtoby@-----.net (Ormondtoby Montoya) wrote:

> I *have* looked in my three dictionaries. They don't pin down the word for
> me. Especially, none of them resolve the statement (my memory is strong
> that you posted this statement) that the Mozart's Gran Partitta isn't
> really a partita.

Probably the reference you remember is:

http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarinet/2001/01/000614.txt

...in which the quote is:

"...the term is about as stupid as one can use (and in any spelling) because
K. 361 is NOT a Partita/Partitta. The term implies a specific form and the
serenade does not adhere to that form. In fact, Mozart never wrote a
Partita/Partitta in his life. Such a term implies a precise quantity and
order of movement types. Therefore, any form of that word should not be used
as a subtitle."

(Dan Leeson)

> I'm curious (not challenging anyone) why this is so?

> For example, Harvard Dictionary says simply (a precis):
>
> In the late 16th and 17th century, a variation, usually one on a
> traditional melody. In the late Baroque period, a suite. In the early
> Classical period, a type of multimovement instrumental work oftentimes
> characterized by a mixture of dance and non-dance movements, many however
> consisting entirely of non-dance movements. Although the majority were
> intended to be performed by solo instruments (or chamber ensemble), a fair
> number of examples for orchestra also exist. In Austria during the early
> classical period, partita was the most common designation for all
> multimovemental chamber works until the late 1750s, when it was replaced as
> the title of choice by divertimento.
>
> Many different pieces of music would seem to qualify under these
> definitions. Thus my question remains: is there a tighter definition for
> 'partita'?

FWIW, the Fifth edition of Grove (ed Eric Blom, 1954) just gives:

"PARTITA: A 17th- and 18th-century term for Suite. Originally the term was
used in the plural, meaning a series of variations; in this sense it appears
on the title-pages of such works as Frescobaldi's 'Toccate e partite'(1614)
and Trabaci's 'Ricercate, canzone...e partite diverse'(1615). Pasquini still
uses it thus at the end of the century.

"The old German term for the suite, 'Partie (plur. 'Partien', eg
'Feldpartien' has the same derivation."

(Thurston Dart)

I don't ATM have access to the modern Grove, which may be more detailed.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd tony.p@-----.org
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE http://classicalplus.gmn.com/artists
tel/fax 01865 553339

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org