The French Suites, BWV 812–817, are six suites which Johann Sebastian Bach wrote for the clavier (harpsichord or clavichord) between the years of 1722 and 1725.[1] Although Suites Nos. 1 to 4 are typically dated to 1722, it is possible that the first was written somewhat earlier.[1]
The suites were later given the name 'French' (first recorded usage by Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg in 1762). Likewise, the English Suites received a later appellation. The name was popularised by Bach's biographer Johann Nikolaus Forkel, who wrote in his 1802 biography of Bach, "One usually calls them French Suites because they are written in the French manner."[1] This claim, however, is inaccurate: like Bach's other suites, they follow a largely Italian convention.[2] There is no surviving definitive manuscript of these suites, and ornamentation varies both in type and in degree across manuscripts.[1] The courantes of the first (in D minor) and third (in B minor) suites are in the French style; the courantes of the other four suites are all in the Italian style. In any case, Bach also employed dance movements (such as the polonaise of the sixth suite) that are foreign to the French manner. Usually, the swift second movement after the allemande is named either courante (French style) or corrente (Italian style), but in all these suites the second movements are named courante, according to the Bach catalog listing, which supports the suggestion that these suites are "French". Some of the manuscripts that have come down to us are titled "Suites Pour Le Clavecin", which is what probably led to the tradition of calling them "French" Suites.
Two additional suites, one in A minor (BWV 818), the other in E♭ major (BWV 819), are linked to the familiar six in some manuscripts. The Overture in the French style, BWV 831, which Bach published as the second part of Clavier-Übung, is a suite in the French style but not connected to the French suites.[3] Some manuscripts have movements not found in other copies. These movements are probably spurious.
Suite No. 4 also exists in an alternative version, published as BWV 815a, which includes three additional movements: a Prelude, a second Gavotte and a Menuet.[4][5]
The first few bars of this suite were written in 1722 for Bach's second wife, but it was not completed until 1723. The Gigue, as often, is in fugal style, in binary form. The voices enter in descending order (Soprano-Alto-Bass), while in the second half of the piece the voices not only enter in opposite order but also an inversion of the 1st subject.[6]
^Christophe Rousset, notes to the recording of the French Suites, Ambroisie AMB9960
^Although see the discussion of French influences in Hans-Joachim Schulze, The French Influence in Bach's Instrumental Music, Early Music, 13:2, 1985 (J. S. Bach Tercentenary Issue, 180–184.
^Judith Schneider (1994). Johann Sebastian Bach: French Suites (2 ed.). Alfred Music. pp. 134–139. ISBN978-1-4574-4464-7.
^David Schulenberg (2006). The Keyboard Music of J.S. Bach. New York: Routledge. ISBN1-136-09154-8.
^O. Warburton, Annie. Analyses of Musical Classics, Book 1 (1963 ed.). Longmans. p. 27.
^Fifty Key Video Games Edited by Bernard Perron, Kelly Boudreau, Mark J.P. Wolf, Dominic Arsenault. Taylor and Francis, 2023.
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French Suites redirects here For other uses see Suite francaise disambiguation The French Suites BWV 812 817 are six suites which Johann Sebastian Bach wrote for the clavier harpsichord or clavichord between the years of 1722 and 1725 1 Although Suites Nos 1 to 4 are typically dated to 1722 it is possible that the first was written somewhat earlier 1 Gavotte from French Suite No 5 Contents 1 Style 2 Movements 2 1 Suite No 1 in D minor BWV 812 2 2 Suite No 2 in C minor BWV 813 2 3 Suite No 3 in B minor BWV 814 2 4 Suite No 4 in E major BWV 815 2 5 Suite No 5 in G major BWV 816 2 6 Suite No 6 in E major BWV 817 3 Legacy 4 See also 5 Notes and references 6 External linksStyle EditThe suites were later given the name French first recorded usage by Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg in 1762 Likewise the English Suites received a later appellation The name was popularised by Bach s biographer Johann Nikolaus Forkel who wrote in his 1802 biography of Bach One usually calls them French Suites because they are written in the French manner 1 This claim however is inaccurate like Bach s other suites they follow a largely Italian convention 2 There is no surviving definitive manuscript of these suites and ornamentation varies both in type and in degree across manuscripts 1 The courantes of the first in D minor and third in B minor suites are in the French style the courantes of the other four suites are all in the Italian style In any case Bach also employed dance movements such as the polonaise of the sixth suite that are foreign to the French manner Usually the swift second movement after the allemande is named either courante French style or corrente Italian style but in all these suites the second movements are named courante according to the Bach catalog listing which supports the suggestion that these suites are French Some of the manuscripts that have come down to us are titled Suites Pour Le Clavecin which is what probably led to the tradition of calling them French Suites Two additional suites one in A minor BWV 818 the other in E major BWV 819 are linked to the familiar six in some manuscripts The Overture in the French style BWV 831 which Bach published as the second part of Clavier Ubung is a suite in the French style but not connected to the French suites 3 Some manuscripts have movements not found in other copies These movements are probably spurious Movements EditSuite No 1 in D minor BWV 812 Edit AllemandeCouranteSarabandeMenuet IMenuet IIGigue Suite No 2 in C minor BWV 813 Edit AllemandeCouranteSarabandeAirMenuetMenuet Trio in BWV 813a Gigue Suite No 3 in B minor BWV 814 Edit French Suite No 3 in B minor MIDI realization I Allemande source source II Courante source source III Sarabande source source IV Gavotte Angloise source source V Menuet source source VI Trio source source VII Gigue source source Problems playing these files See media help AllemandeCouranteSarabandeAngloiseMenuet TrioGigue Suite No 4 in E major BWV 815 Edit AllemandeCouranteSarabandeGavotteAirMenuetGigue Suite No 4 also exists in an alternative version published as BWV 815a which includes three additional movements a Prelude a second Gavotte and a Menuet 4 5 Suite No 5 in G major BWV 816 Edit French Suite No 5 in G major MIDI realization I Allemande source source II Courante source source III Sarabande source source IV Gavotte source source V Bourree source source VI Loure source source VII Gigue source source Problems playing these files See media help AllemandeCouranteSarabandeGavotteBourreeLoureGigue The first few bars of this suite were written in 1722 for Bach s second wife but it was not completed until 1723 The Gigue as often is in fugal style in binary form The voices enter in descending order Soprano Alto Bass while in the second half of the piece the voices not only enter in opposite order but also an inversion of the 1st subject 6 Suite No 6 in E major BWV 817 Edit French Suite No 6 in E major MIDI realization I Allemande source source II Courante source source III Sarabande source source IV Gavotte source source V Polonaise source source VI Bourree source source VII Menuet source source VIII Gigue source source Problems playing these files See media help AllemandeCouranteSarabandeGavottePolonaiseBourreeMenuetGigueLegacy EditThe Menuet from Suite No 3 in B minor BWV 814 was provided as one of three soundtrack options in Nintendo s Game Boy version of Tetris 7 See also EditWorks for keyboard by Johann Sebastian Bach Partitas BWV 825 830 English Suites BWV 806 811 Bach compositions printed during the composer s lifetimeNotes and references Edit a b c d Bach The French Suites Embellished version Barenreiter Urtext Christophe Rousset notes to the recording of the French Suites Ambroisie AMB9960 Although see the discussion of French influences in Hans Joachim Schulze The French Influence in Bach s Instrumental Music Early Music 13 2 1985 J S Bach Tercentenary Issue 180 184 Judith Schneider 1994 Johann Sebastian Bach French Suites 2 ed Alfred Music pp 134 139 ISBN 978 1 4574 4464 7 David Schulenberg 2006 The Keyboard Music of J S Bach New York Routledge ISBN 1 136 09154 8 O Warburton Annie Analyses of Musical Classics Book 1 1963 ed Longmans p 27 Fifty Key Video Games Edited by Bernard Perron Kelly Boudreau Mark J P Wolf Dominic Arsenault Taylor and Francis 2023 External links EditFrench Suites Scores at the International Music Score Library Project French Suites Archived 11 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine Mutopia Project free sheet music Liner notes for recording by Angela Hewitt Liner notes Archived 11 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine for recording by Julian Perkins Liner notes Archived 3 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine for recording by Masaaki Suzuki Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title French Suites Bach amp oldid 1134183571, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
