French Suites (Bach)

The French Suites are a collection of six multi-movement compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach for a keyboard instrument - harpsichord or clavichord - wrote ( BWV 812-817 ). Each suite consists of a series of stylized dances.

Construction

The cycle starts with three suites in minor keys, and then leaves three follow in the major. They all start with the typical sequence of movements Allemande - Sarabande to, those in the major suites follows a Gavotte - Courante. Here Bach pushes more dances - including usually a minuet - a; the works then end with a gigue.

The origin of the name is still not clear how - from Bach he is not sure. It is striking that Bach dispenses with the usual introductory overture in French Suites in general and directly starts with a dance movement. Compared to the two other suite collections, the English Suites with their extended, virtuosic preludes and partitas mature, they are shorter and easier to play.

In both the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach from 1722 and 1725, there are already early versions of the first five pieces.

The individual works

Suite I in D minor BWV 812

Sets

  • Allemande c
  • Courante 3/2
  • Sarabande 3/4
  • Minuet I - II - I 3/4
  • Gigue c

Suite II in C minor, BWV 813

Sets

  • Allemande c
  • Courante 3/4
  • Sarabande 3/4
  • Air ¢
  • Minuet I - II - I 3/4
  • Jig 3/8

Suite III B minor BWV 814

Sets

  • Allemande c
  • Courante 6/4
  • Sarabande 3/4
  • Anglaise 2
  • Menuet - Trio - Minuet 3/4
  • Jig 3/8

Suite IV in E flat major BWV 815

Sets

  • Allemande c
  • Courante 3/4
  • Sarabande 3/4
  • Gavotte 2
  • Air c
  • Jig 6/8

One of the copies adds yet a prelude of arpeggiated chords and / or a minuet.

Suite V in G major BWV 816

Sets

  • Allemande c
  • Courante 3/4
  • Sarabande 3/4
  • Gavotte ¢
  • Bourrée ¢
  • Loure 6/4
  • Gigue 12/16

VI Suite E major BWV 817

Sets

  • Allemande c
  • Courante 3/4
  • Sarabande 3/4
  • Gavotte ¢
  • Polonaise 3/4
  • Bourrée 2
  • Minuet 3/4
  • Jig 6/8

In the sixth suite of the largest with eight sets circumference falls on. Because multiple tradition here is the order of the sentences uncertain. In a copy of Bach 's pupil Heinrich Nicolaus Gerber they appear in combination with the E- Major Prelude from the first part of the Well-Tempered Clavier ( BWV 854/1 ) as SVITE 6ta avec Prelude within a manuscript miscellany, whose original order no longer be reconstructed is; obviously she represents here the 6th English Suite

Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis English Suites (Bach)
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