Back to George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel

Suite in D minor, HWV 428

c. 1717–1720

[IMSLP page 1] · [IMSLP page 2]

Total duration: 23'

1. Prélude
2. Allegro
3. Allemande
4. Courante
5. Air con variazioni
5. Air con variazioni (earlier version)
6. Presto
6. Allegro (earlier version)

Recommended editions

Hallische Händel-Ausgabe (Bärenreiter) · IV/1 · BA 4049 · Klavierwerke I / Erste Sammlung von 1720, Die achte großen Suiten · ed. Rudolf Steglich/Terence Best [including earlier versions of movs. 5–6]
Associated Board · Eight Great Suites, Book 1 · ed. Richard Jones
Bärenreiter · BA 4224 · Klavierwerke I / Erste Sammlung von 1720, Die achte großen Suiten · ed. Rudolf Steglich/Terence Best [including earlier versions of movs. 5–6]
Henle · HN 336 · Klaviersuiten (London 1720) · ed. Anthony Hicks
Wiener Urtext · UT 50119 · Klavierwerke II / Acht Große Suiten · ed. Peter Williams

1. Prélude

This prelude is a later version of the prélude in D minor (HWV 561) and the prélude in D minor (HWV 565); the former is identical to the prelude of the suite in D minor (HWV 437).

Duration: 1'

Difficulty: 2

2. Allegro

Duration: 2' 30"

Difficulty: 3.5

3. Allemande

Duration: 4'

Difficulty: 2.5

4. Courante

Duration: 2'

Difficulty: 3

5. Air con variazioni

The air is followed by five variations. This movement exists in two earlier versions: one in the suite in D minor (HWV 449), and a later one that is given below.

Duration: 9'

Difficulty: 2.5

Suite in D minor, HWV 428; 5. Air con variazioni

5. Air con variazioni (earlier version)

The air is followed by three variations, which correspond to the first, fourth and fifth variations of the final version.

Duration: 6'

Difficulty: 2.5

Suite in D minor, HWV 428; 5. Air con variazioni (earlier version)

6. Presto

This movement exists in four different keyboard versions: (in order) the lesson in D minor (HWV 495a), the lesson in D minor (HWV 495b), an earlier version of the last movement of the suite in D minor (HWV 428), and the final version of this suite movement. Versions of the movement are also used in the final part of the overture to the first version of the opera Il Pastor fido (HWV 8a), the organ concerto in D minor (HWV 309, op. 7 no. 4), the concerto grosso in D major (HWV 317, op. 3 no. 6), and the menuet in E minor, HWV Anh. A 15/1.

Duration: 4' 30"

Difficulty: 3

6. Allegro (earlier version)

Duration: 4'

Difficulty: 3

Suite in D minor, HWV 428; 6. Allegro (earlier version)