Klarinet Archive - Posting 000315.txt from 2005/04

From: ormo2ndtoby@-----.net (Ormondtoby Montoya)
Subj: RE: [kl] Precisely what is a "partita"?
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 14:33:06 -0400

One dictionary gives the literal definition of partita to be "division".
The name 'partita' also suggests "little part'.

Perhaps composers over the centuries were comfortable to use the name
'partita' for anything which could be considered part of something
larger --- especially themes from larger works and suites of variations
thereof, and/or suites of themes from a particular geographical area or
genre? As "larger" forms of music (such as the symphony) evolved,
perhaps the acceptable instrumentation for a partita expanded also?

Thus a solo or a theme can be considered a 'part' or a 'division' of
something larger, and then a suite of variations thereon. Harvard
Dictionary mentions that 'partita' implied 'wind instruments only' for a
decade or two until the name 'harmonie' came into use.

I suppose that, given this interpretation, a large or expansive ("Gran")
partita would be understandable eventually, albeit lacking precision ---
similar to saying that chocolate is a large part of chocolate ice cream
when, by measure of weight or volume or other sensations involved in ice
cream, it tells only part of the story.

....anyway, I'm not defending the title "Gran Partitta". It stimulated
my curiosity, and that's all.

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