The Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin by Johann Sebastian Bach date from the early 18th century. They are unusual in being totally played by violin alone, with no accompaniment of any kind; the most famous movement from the Bach sonatas and partitas is the so-called “Chaconne” that concludes the Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004.
The sonatas each have four movements, beginning with a slow movement, ending with a brisk one, and with the central pair of movements consisting of one Fugue and one slower, more graceful movement.
The partitas are more varied in construction, having from five to eight movements, each generally rather short and often based upon the rhythms of ballroom dances, such as minuets, gigues, allemandes, sarabandes, siciliennes, and bourrées. The varying selection of dance rhythms allows for contrasting moods.
Here is violinist Alina Ibragimova, playing “Largo” movement from the Sonata #3 for violin alone by Bach:
