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The short answer
Sarabande, French Suite No. 2, BWV 813 is a sarabande by Johann Sebastian Bach from the Baroque era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 6, an estimate.
- sarabande
- Baroque
- Key of C minor
- gentle
- melancholic
- hand independence
- voicing
Also known as French Suite No. 2 in C minor, BWV 813; J. S. Bach.
History
A decorated upper phrase sits above longer supporting notes. Some notes hold while another voice moves. Give those held tones a place in the sound rather than treating the piece as melody plus forgotten background.
Sources
What to listen for
Decoration over support
The upper E-flat is surrounded by short moving notes while the lower lines use longer values. Hear the decoration as part of the sung phrase.
When motion changes hands
In the next position, upper motion leads to a held F while the supporting voices continue. Listen for that change in where the movement lives.
How to practise it
- Keep sustained and moving voices audible without making the supporting layer heavy.
- Practise the independent lines separately, then combine their different rhythmic roles.
How hard is it
The opening has three encoded voices, mixed sixteenth and eighth subdivisions, sustained half notes and later faster figures. Balancing sustained and moving layers is the main intermediate challenge.
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
