Bach: Suites Françaises

Dating from 1722, the six French Suites appear to belong to the didactic works that Bach composed around that time, along with the first part of the Well-Tempered Clavier and the Inventions and Sinfonias, which were more clearly intended for the studies of his eldest son. They seem to complete these polyphonic pieces and to be an introduction to the French art of harpsichord playing. Here we find even less density and grandeur than in the English Suites, which are contrapunal in style. The French Suites are transparent, melodic in style, often a cantilena accompanied by a figured bass. The palette is more varied than in the English Suites and therefore more didactic.