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The short answer
Courante, French Suite No. 2, BWV 813 is a courante by Johann Sebastian Bach from the Baroque era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 6, an estimate.
- courante
- Baroque
- Key of C minor
- dancing
- playful
- hand independence
- scales runs
Also known as French Suite No. 2 in C minor, BWV 813; J. S. Bach.
History
The opening moves through little groups of eighth notes while the lower line mixes rests, quarters and shorter notes. Give the melody a clear direction without making every eighth note sound like a new beat.
Sources
What to listen for
A turning line
The opening circles through G, A-flat, F and G before reaching higher. Listen for the gesture rather than six equal accents.
A differently spaced bass
The lower voice enters after rests, then changes between quarter and eighth notes. Its rhythm does not simply duplicate the upper line.
How to practise it
- Practise the independent lines separately, then combine their different rhythmic roles.
- Group the short-note figures into clear gestures rather than stressing every note.
How hard is it
Independent eighth-note patterns sit against a differently spaced lower line; the third source position also writes out a short thirty-second-note turn. Coordination and lightness support an intermediate estimate.
About this piece
- Licence
- cc-zero
- Source
- musescore.com
More by Johann Sebastian Bach
- Prelude in C major, BWV 846Level 4, estimatedOpen to everyone
- Two-Part Invention No. 1 in C major, BWV 772Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
- Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971: III. PrestoLevel 9, estimatedWith Maestro
