French Suites

The French Suites were composed between 1722 and 1725. They consist of the traditional dances like Allemande, Courante, Menuet, Gavotte, Gigue, Sarabande as well as some less-frequently encountered dances like the Anglaise, Polonaise, Air, Bourree and Loure. These suites, not particularly 'French' in idiom, lack preludes, and are shorter and less elaborate than the Partitas and English Suites. Nevertheless, they contain some of Bach's most popular and accessible keyboard writing.

As usual with Bach, parts of the suites were recycled from earlier works or sketchbooks, and they underwent several revisions after publication, like the addition of extra ornamentation.

Six French Suites, BWV 812-817 (1722-1725) Complete recording by Gregorio Szames
BWV 812 - French Suite No.1 in D minor
1	Allemande	1:48
2	Courante	1:16
3	Sarabande	2:32
4/5	Menuet I / II	4:19
6	Gigue	2:10
BWV 813 - French Suite No.2 in C minor
1	Allemande	2:40
2	Courante	1:21
3	Sarabande	2:42
4	Air	0:57
5	Menuet	1:02
6	Gigue	1:42
BWV 814 - French Suite No.3 in B minor
1	Allemande	2:13
2	Courante	1:25
3	Sarabande	2:19
4	Anglaise	1:00
5	Menuet - Trio	2:39
6	Gigue	1:47
BWV 815 - French Suite No.4 in E flat major
1	Allemande	1:25
2	Courante	1:19
3	Sarabande	2:39
4	Gavotte	0:55
5	Menuet	1:07
6	Air	1:15
7	Gigue	1:54
BWV 816 - French Suite No.5 in G major
1	Allemande	2:01
2	Courante	1:28
3	Sarabande	3:44
4	Gavotte	0:48
5	Bourre	1:00
6	Loure	1:29
7	Gigue	2:40
BWV 817 - French Suite No.6 in E major
1	Allemande	1:58
2	Courante	1:15
3	Sarabande	3:26
4	Gavotte	0:53
5	Polonaise	1:05
6	Menuet	1:01
7	Bourre	1:04
8	Gigue	1:56

Six French Suites, BWV 812-817 (1722-1725) Complete recording by Chris Breemer
BWV 812 - French Suite No.1 in D minor
1	Allemande	3:12
2	Courante	2:21
3	Sarabande	2:44
4	Menuet I	1:04
5	Menuet II	2:33
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