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Johann Sebastian Bach

French Suite no. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815

c. 1722–1723

[Wikipedia] · [IMSLP page 1] · [IMSLP page 2]

Total duration: 13' (version A) or 14' (version B)

The French Suites (BWV 812–817) exist in two primary versions: the first (BWV³ 812.1–817.1; denoted A in the Neue Bach-Ausgabe) captured in a copy by Johann Christoph Altnickol, and the second (BWV³ 812.2–817.2; denoted B in the Neue Bach-Ausgabe) incorporating various later readings. The versions are broadly similar except for the more elaborate ornamentation in B, although it should be noted that, since B originates from multiple sources, not all its ornamentation need be observed concurrently.

The Notebooks for Anna Magdalena Bach also contain copies of the French suites; the 1722 notebook is similar to, but not exactly the same as, version A, whilst the 1725 notebook is captured in version B.

Further, the third (BWV 814) and fourth (BWV 815) suites exist in variant versions (BWV^2,2a 814a and 815a; BWV³ 814.3 and 815.3) that might not be by Bach.

Throughout these pages, given the similarity between the versions, only version A is given, except in those cases where the movements are fundamentally different between versions.

Recommended editions

• Neue Bach-Ausgabe (Bärenreiter) · V, 4 · BA 5008-01 · Die Klavierbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach von 1722 und 1725 · ed. Georg van Dadelsen [version from the 1722 Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach]
• Neue Bach-Ausgabe (Bärenreiter) · V, 8 · BA 5053-01 · Die sechs Französischen Suiten / Zwei Suiten a-Moll und Es-Dur · ed. Alfred Dürr [versions A, B and variant version]
• Associated Board · French Suites · ed. Richard Jones [including menuet]
• Bärenreiter · BA 5219 · Die sechs Französischen Suiten / Zwei Suiten a-Moll und Es-Dur · ed. Alfred Dürr [versions A, B and variant version]
• Bärenreiter · BA 5166 · Französischen Suiten / Die verzierte Fassung · ed. Alfred Dürr [version B]
• Henle · HN 593 · Französische Suiten · ed. Ullrich Scheideler [including praeludium and second gavotte from variant version]
• Henle · HN 594 · Französische Suiten · ed. Ullrich Scheideler [including praeludium and second gavotte from variant version]
• Henle · HN 1593 · Französische Suiten · ed. Ullrich Scheideler [including praeludium and second gavotte from variant version]
• Peters · EP 11443 · Französische Suiten / Französische Ouvertüre · ed. Ulrich Bartels [including praeludium, menuet, and second gavotte from variant version]
• Peters · EP 11500 · Die Clavier-Büchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach / 1722 & 1725 · ed. Christoph Wolff [version from the 1722 Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach]
• Wiener Urtext · UT 50048 · Französische Suiten · ed. Hans-Christian Müller

Praeludium (variant version)

The variant version of the suite (BWV^2,2a 815a; BWV³ 815.3) includes a prelude before the allemande.

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 2.5

1. (1.) Allemande

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 2

2. (2.) Courante

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 2.5

3. (3.) Sarabande

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 2

4. (4.) Gavotte

In the variant version of the suite (BWV^2,2a 815a; BWV³ 815.3), this movement is titled Gavotte I.

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 2

Gavotte II (variant version)

The variant version of the suite (BWV^2,2a 815a; BWV³ 815.3) includes a second gavotte after the first.

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 2

5. (5.) Air

In the variant version of the suite (BWV^2,2a 815a; BWV³ 815.3), this movement is titled an aria.

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 2

6. Menuet

This movement is found in neither version A nor the variant version of the suite (BWV^2,2a 815a; BWV³ 815.3).

Duration: 1'

Difficulty: 1.5

7. (6.) Gigue

This movement is not found in the variant version of the suite (BWV^2,2a 815a; BWV³ 815.3).

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 2.5

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