J. S. Bach: French Suite No. 2 for French Horn Quartet | Arr. James M. Guthrie

J. S. Bach's French Suite No. 2, BWV 813, arranged for French horn quartet by James M. Guthrie. Explore French horn chamber music, horn-quartet repertoire, Bach's music, and sheet music information below. Program notes J. S. Bach (1685–1750) French Suite No. 2 in C minor, BWV 813 Arranged for French horn quartet I. Allemande II. Courante III. Sarabande IV. Air V. Menuet VI. Gigue Bach never called these works "French Suites." The nickname came later. The C minor suite dates from about 1722, near the end of his years at Cöthen, and its earliest version appears in the notebook he began that year for his second wife, Anna Magdalena. Bach kept revising it, and several versions survive. They differ most in the Allemande and Courante. There is no prelude. The suite begins with the Allemande and then follows the standard order of Courante, Sarabande, and Gigue. Between the sarabande and gigue Bach adds a freer choice of lighter dances. The Allemande sets a serious, flowing tone in C minor. In the quartet its lines pass from horn to horn and overlap in a way a keyboard can only suggest. The Courante is not the stately French type. It is a "running" Italian corrente in two voices and on horns it becomes a quick, agile dialogue. The Sarabande is the slow, expressive center of the suite. Here the horns' sustained, blended sound brings out suspensions and inner voices that fade quickly on a harpsichord. The Air is in 2/2 time. Its two voices answer each other, giving the music depth. In the quartet that exchange can be shared among the players. The graceful Menuet follows. In one version of the suite it is paired with a second minuet that serves as a trio. The Gigue closes the suite with the upbeats, dotted rhythms and strong-beat accents of the canarie, a lively French dance. It is written in 3/8 but moves in four-bar phrases, built on two-voice imitation. In the second half Bach turns the subject upside down. On horns, the dotted figures sound crisp and spirited, and the suite ends with energy and contrapuntal wit.