Jayson Mackie

Partitas

The Partitas for solo violin were inspired by the Partitas and Sonatas for Violin by J.S. Bach and the Fantasias for Flute by Telemann.

Jayson Mackie writes:
I wanted to write some unaccompanied pieces of a light-hearted nature, slightly tongue in cheek, which used similar melodic shapes, implied harmonic progressions, varied rhythmic ideas and overall structures as the Bach and Telemann. Contrasting dynamics and articulations abound, and I have toyed with the phrase shapes which give rise to variety and slightly irregular nature of some of the climaxes and anti-climaxes throughout the pieces.

Although something of a misnomer taking into account the light-hearted nature of the collection in general, one could describe these pieces as studies. The first partita is a spirited kind of gigue; the second is a scherzo-like interlude which contrasts pizzicato with arco playing; the third is a passionate nocturne full of light and shade with plenty of scope for legato cantabile playing; and the final partita is a humorous parody of a gavotte.

The Partitas were originally called 'Four Bagatelles' and first performed by Esen-Nikolas Gjylaci during a concert at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff in March, 2003. Total duration: 10 minutes. First published in 2006 by Cwmni Cyhoeddi Oriana (Oriana Publications) in Y Barri, Glamorgan, Wales.