Ideal order for learning Bach suites

[stravinskylover]

I am on a mission to learn every Bach suite (English Suites, Partitas, Ouverture in the French Style, etc.) except for the French Suites (not a big fan of those). I would like your advice in which order to learn them.

Essentially, I'm asking you to rank them according to difficulty. Please include the Ouverture in the French Style (which is a partita) in your rankings (it is my favorite).

[j_menz]

You'd be much better off considering the challenges of individual movements. There's a lot more variety within them than between them.

[nanabush]

I played three movements from the G minor English Suite in my second year at University, and the Bb Partita in my fourth year.

I stand by this when I say it: the Suite (for me) was MUCH more difficult.  I did the Prelude, Sarabande and Gigue for my jury (but had been working on all movements).  The Prelude, texturally (or orchestrally...) is extremely thick, and has a lot of lines going on.  The Sarabande had some very intricate ornamentation, and the Gigue was a pretty difficult fugue.

The Partita's Prelude was not easy by any means, but was a little more straightforward for me.  The Sarabande wasn't too bad, and the Gigue (although showy..) was not even comparable in terms of actual difficulty to the G minor.

I'd have to say I enjoyed playing the Partita More.  The Sarabande was incredible in that suite.

==

People will probably say different things, but don't underestimate the English Suites!!!  I'd honestly suggest starting with the Bb major Partita (I am aware that the sixth partita is a much larger work)..

[symphonicdance]

First thing is not about learning any suite, but rather the characteristics of the different dances commonly employed by Bach in the suites and even WTC.