Les Suites Françaises de J. S. Bach

There are six suites for solo cello, four suites for orchestra, and three cycles of suites for keyboard: French, English and German. This is a form that the great Bach magnified by giving his dances an exceptional contrapuntal depth.

The suite is a succession of instrumental pieces for dancing. It developed at the end of the Renaissance, particularly among lutenists who were responsible for accompanying balls. To vary the pleasures, lively dances alternate with slow dances. Like the architecture of Versailles, this essentially French art form found many imitators in Germany.

Bach, who never left his native land, discovered it during his studies in Lüneburg with a disciple of Jean-Baptiste Lully: it was a revelation, leading to the creation of numerous cycles. The six French Suites for keyboard were written during the golden years in Köthen. They are structured according to the traditional model of French suites, namely four fixed dances – allemande, courante, sarabande and gigue – and a variable number of ‘galanteries’ between the sarabande and the gigue: minuets, gavottes, bourrées, etc.

Rediscover Cédric Pescia, who confirms his predilection for great solo cycles with this collection.