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Baroque · concerto movement

Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971: III. Presto

Johann Sebastian Bach · Level 9, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

The finale returns to a recurring idea. Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971: III. Presto is a piece by Johann Sebastian Bach from the Baroque era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 9, an estimate.

On this page
  • concerto movement
  • Baroque
  • Key of F major
  • joyful

Also known as Italian Concerto, BWV 971: Presto.

History

The Society calls the finale a rondo within a concerto conceived for one harpsichordist. Its account also records a corrected second print after problems with the first engravers. Which historical print our digital edition follows remains unconfirmed.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A strong gesture receives a running answer

    The upper opening and ascending response overlap independent lower movement. Hear their dialogue through the fuller sonorities.

  2. Sequences move the entries to new levels

    Linked figures and held contrasts develop at changed pitches. Recognise the entry shapes across the shifting registers.

  3. Broken figures prepare a fuller opening return

    Familiar quieter gestures and bass replies precede the stronger recall. Hear the change of scale in their response.

  4. Running and chordal replies reach a broad close

    Opening-related figures converge into a full F-major fermata sonority. Hear the active strands settle together.

How to practise it

Give the Presto opening's broad F gesture direction into its rising eighths.

  1. Count the opening F values fully, then aim the eighth-note ascent toward its higher B-flat rather than racing from the first G.
  2. Play each lower voice alone, then combine the halves before adding the shorter quarter-note motion.

How hard is it

Level 9, estimated

Presto figuration and recurring concerto gestures require speed, endurance and controlled changes of register and character.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Johann Sebastian Bach, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Licence
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0
Source
mutopiaproject.org
Credit
“Italian Concerto, BWV 971: Presto” by J. S. Bach (1685 to 1750). Mutopia edition maintained by Boris Dušek and Jay Anderson. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=1826. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. The supplied source ZIP was unpacked into this individual MIDI without editing note data; disclose any later conversion or edits separately.

More by Johann Sebastian Bach

  1. Prelude in C major, BWV 846Level 4, estimatedOpen to everyone
  2. Two-Part Invention No. 1 in C major, BWV 772Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Give the Presto opening's broad F gesture direction into its rising eighths.

Practise it in PlayPiano