Johann Sebastian Bach
French Suites

About Johann Sebastian Bach's French Suites

The “French” Suites were not published during Bach’s lifetime, and there exists no definitive original manuscript.
The first drafts of several of them are found in the first Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach; the composer then continued to revise them throughout his life.
There are also two freestanding suites, BWV 818-819 which contended for inclusion in the group during Bach´s lifetime, probably in place of the standard fifth and sixth suites.
Not until Bach’s 19th-century biographer Forkel prepared an edition in the early nineteenth century did BWV 812-817 become widely available and known by the collective title French Suites, which does not appear in any original source.
Although the movements have their names after French dances, these suites are actually more Italian than French in style. They are among the easiest of Bach’s keyboard works.

ID:11
Preview TitleKey Year Level
French Suite 1 BWV 812  in D Minor by Bach piano sheet music AAB French Suite 1 BWV 8128 D Minor 1722 8
French Suite 2 BWV 813  in C Minor by Bach piano sheet music AAC French Suite 2 BWV 8132 C Minor 1722 8
French Suite 3 BWV 814  in B Minor by Bach piano sheet music AAD French Suite 3 BWV 81436 B Minor 1722 8
French Suite 4 BWV 815  in E-flat Major by Bach piano sheet music AAE French Suite 4 BWV 81511 E-flat Major 1722 8
French Suite 5 BWV 816  in G Major by Bach piano sheet music AAF French Suite 5 BWV 81623 G Major 1722 8
French Suite 6 BWV 817  in E Major by Bach piano sheet music AAG French Suite 6 BWV 81713 E Major 1722 8

Forum posts about the French Suites by Johann Sebastian Bach

Sinfonias or French Suites? by faa2010
Hi, I thought I was finally going to begin with WTC 1, after many years of Inventions and Sinfonias, but my teacher told me that first I ha...

Bach French Suite for "Piano" by point of grace
hey! i have to study a french suite... have u play any of them? which is the more difficult one? and the easiest? thanks for your opinions...

Bach English and French Suites by jehangircama
has anyone here played some of these pieces or heard good recordings of them. i'm planning to sight read a couple of them, which one�...