Orchestral suites (Bach)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Four Orchestral Suites BWV 1066–1069 are a set of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach, probably composed around 1720 in Köthen. At the time of their composition, they were called Ouvertures after their respective first movement, but nowadays they are more appropriately called orchestral suites.

Contents 1 Orchestral Suite No. 1 2 Orchestral Suite No. 2 3 Orchestral Suite No. 3 4 Orchestral Suite No. 4

[edit] Orchestral Suite No. 1

Key: C major

Instrumentation: Oboe I/II, Bassoon, Violin I/II, Viola, Basso continuo

Movements: Ouverture – Courante — Gavotte I/II — Forlane — Minuet I/II — Bourrée I/II — Passepied I/II

[edit] Orchestral Suite No. 2

Key: b minor

Instrumentation: Flute, Violin I/II, Viola, Basso continuo

Movements: Ouverture — Lentement — Rondeau — Sarabande — Bourrée I/II — Polonaise/Double — Minuet — Badinerie

The Badinerie has, in recent years, become a show-piece for solo flautists, due to its quick pace and difficulty of the solo flute part.

[edit] Orchestral Suite No. 3

Key: D major

Instrumentation: Trumpet I–III, Timpani, Oboe I/II, Violin I/II, Viola, Basso continuo

Movements: Ouverture — Air — Gavotte I/II — Bourrée — Gigue

The Air is probably one of the most famous pieces of classical music. An arrangement of the piece has come to be known as Air on the G String.

[edit] Orchestral Suite No. 4

Key: D major

Instrumentation: Trumpet I–III, Timpani, Oboe I–III, Bassoon, Violin I/II, Viola, Basso continuo

Movements: Ouverture — Bourrée I/II — Gavotte — Menuet I/II — Réjouissance

The opening movement of this suite was reused by Bach in his cantata "Unser Mund sei voll Lachens" (BWV 110).