J.S. Bach | English Suites BWV 806-811 | Piano Solo

Description

These six pianoforte suites of Johann Sebastian Bach were known as “English Suites” as early as the latter half of the eighteenth century because (as Bach’s biographer Forkel put it) “they were made for an Englishman of rank”. Perhaps that has some connection with the annotation “faites pour les Anglois” in the title of the copy of the Suites belonging to Bach’s youngest son, Johann Christian, who was then living in Lon- V don. And yet it might also be only a gracious dedication added later by Johann Christian himself. On the other hand, the title has been attributed to reminiscences of the pianoforte music of the French composer Dieupart, who resided in London, and also (which is far more likely) to a certain relationship between the first suite in particular and the first of Handel’s pianoforte suites, (also in A major), which were published in London in 1720. Judging by surviving copies, Bach himself first called them “Préludes avec leurs Suites” and then later “Suites avec Préludes”. For all that, the Préludes are really quite sizable and important pieces

Contents

• English Suite no. 1 A major BWV 806
• Piano 7 difficult
• English Suite no. 2 a minor BWV 807
• Piano 7 difficult
• English Suite no. 3 g minor BWV 808
• Piano 7 difficult
• English Suite no. 4 F major BWV 809
• Piano 6 medium
• English Suite no. 5 e minor BWV 810
• Piano 7 difficult
• English Suite no. 6 d minor BWV 811
• Piano 7 difficult