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Johann Sebastian Bach

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

c. 1722–1723

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 (BWV2,2a 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.

version Aversion Bvariant version
1. Praeludium
1. Allemande1. Allemande2. Allemande
2. Courante2. Courante3. Courante
3. Sarabande3. Sarabande4. Sarabande
4. Gavotte4. Gavotte5. Gavotte I
6. Gavotte II
5. Air5. Air7. Aria
6. Menuet
6. Gigue7. Gigue

Recommended editions


Praeludium (variant version)

The variant version of the suite (BWV2,2a 815a; BWV3 815.3) includes a prelude before the allemande.

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 2.5

French Suite no. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815; Praeludium (variant version) French Suite no. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815; Praeludium (variant version)

1. (1.) Allemande

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 2

French Suite no. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815; 1. (1.) Allemande

2. (2.) Courante

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 2.5

French Suite no. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815; 2. (2.) Courante

3. (3.) Sarabande

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 2

French Suite no. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815; 3. (3.) Sarabande

4. (4.) Gavotte

In the variant version of the suite (BWV2,2a 815a; BWV3 815.3), this movement is titled Gavotte I.

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 2

French Suite no. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815; 4. (4.) Gavotte

Gavotte II (variant version)

The variant version of the suite (BWV2,2a 815a; BWV3 815.3) includes a second gavotte after the first.

Duration: 3'

Difficulty: 2

French Suite no. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815; Gavotte II (variant version)

5. (5.) Air

In the variant version of the suite (BWV2,2a 815a; BWV3 815.3), this movement is titled an aria.

Duration: 1' 30"

Difficulty: 2

French Suite no. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815; 5. (5.) Air

6. Menuet

This movement is found in neither version A nor the variant version of the suite (BWV2,2a 815a; BWV3 815.3).

Duration: 1'

Difficulty: 1.5

French Suite no. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815; 6. Menuet

7. (6.) Gigue

This movement is not found in the variant version of the suite (BWV2,2a 815a; BWV3 815.3).

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 2.5

French Suite no. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815; 7. (6.) Gigue

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