Bach Orchestral Suite No.3

Orchestral Suite No.3 in D Major BWV 1068

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

Date of Publication: 1730

Due to the popularity of "Air on the G string,” Bach's 3rd orchestral suite has become one of his most famous pieces, and certainly his most famous orchestral suite. However, despite Bach's orchestral suites being supposedly written for an orchestra of string instruments , Bach's original instrumentation for his 3rd is thought to have included 3 trumpet parts, timpani, 2 oboe parts, 2 violin parts, viola, and basso continuo (an archaic baroque instrument). Bach begins this suite of dances with a French Ouverture, a binary movement in ABA form, composed of a slow, leisurely common time and a brisk, energetic cut time section, and a recapitulation of the original, slow theme. Interestingly, in Bach's time, the timpani could only be played in C major, with the instrument tuned to the tonic key (D major in this case). As a result, the timpani could only be played when the piece is in D major, and not modulated to other keys. Afterwards, Bach progresses the suite with a binary form English aria (Air) in common time. Since this is the movement that "Air on the G string" was based off of, it has become probably one of the most well known 18 measures of baroque music. Afterwards, comes 2 gavottes, both written in a cut time meter, phrased in 4 measure groups. The first gavotte introduces a simple motif of a quarter and 2 eighth notes, which the second gavotte slightly modifies, by placing the 2 eighth notes before the quarter. Thus, it is pretty easy to tell which gavotte is playing at a time. Following the gavottes, comes the Bourree, another French dance in cut time with 4 measure phrases. However, despite being similar to the form of all the other movements, this Bourree is unique for its time, as its second part dabbles with a syncopated rhythm. Finally, Bach closes out this piece with a Gigue, a movement similar to the gavottes but heavier and more chaotic.

Fun Fact: Orchestral Suite No. 3 was written after suites 1 and 4 (composed in 1723 and 1725 respectively), and before suite no. 2 (composed in 1738-9).

Movements:

I. Ouverture

II. Air

III. Gavotte I

IV. Gavotte II

V. Bourrée

VI. Gigue