Diana Boyle has a fascination for the recording process, which allows her to think about music with deep concentration and privacy for extended periods.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bach's son, Wilhelm Friedmann, noted that the Partitas are not merely mathematical or playful, but require the performer to bring them to life with a "plastic, cantabile style."
Composition History
J.S. Bach's Six Keyboard Partitas were published by Bach himself in 1731 under the title Clavier-Ubung, with one partita issued each year from 1726 onwards.
Interpretation
Bach's Partitas demand an expressive touch, and performers must sense "the finest and best ideas" from the music itself, as Bach provided few specific directions for legato and staccato.
Performer Biography
Diana Boyle, the pianist on this recording, won a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music at age 15 and later studied with Artur Balsam, whose influence was pivotal to her musical life.
Recording & Production
This recording of Bach's Partitas was made in 1990 at Forde Abbey, England, after Diana Boyle was invited to make a series of recordings for National Public Radio in Boston in 1987.
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