CXC. BACH, J.S.: French Suite #5 in G Major, BWV 816

CXC. BACH, J.S. (1685-1750)

French Suite #5 in G Major, BWV 816 (1722-23)
1. Allemande
2. Courante
3. Sarabande
4. Gavotte
5. Bourrée
6. Loure
7. Gigue
Francesco Corti, harpsichord
(16:52)

• Why are they called French suites?
• Bach's biographer, Johann Nikolaus Forkel, suggests a reason: "because they were written in the French manner ..."
• However, this is actually incorrect; they are mostly in the "Italian" style.
• Since no definitive manuscript survives, an additional reason for the appellation might be a later manuscript title, "Suites Pour Le Clavecin."

• What are the dances?
• Allemande
• Courante
• Sarabande
• Gavotte
• Bourrée
• Loure
• Gigue

• What is Baroque ornamentation?

• What is so clever about the Gigue?
• In 12/16 time (12 beats to a bar; a 16th-note gets one beat), it is fugal; and the voices appear in descending order (soprano, alto, bass) ...
• The second section features the voices in ascending order (bass, alto, soprano) -- and also in inversion! [what goes up then goes down, and visa versa]
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