Bach Italian Concerto

Johann Sebastian Bach's Italian Concerto, BWV 971, is a three movement work for harpsichord published in 1735. The piece was originally used as the first half of Bach's Clavier-Übung II, the second half of which is his French Overture. With its two lively F-major outer movements, the Italian Concerto is widely popular and has been performed and recorded on both harpsichord and piano.

The Overture in the French style, BWV 831, original title Ouvertüre nach Französischer Art, also known as the French Overture and published as the second half of Clavier-Übung II in 1735 (paired with the Italian Concerto), is a suite in B minor for two-manual harpsichord.

Bach's keyboards were harpsichords and clavichords, not pianos. The earliest pianos (fortepianos) did not become popular until the 1760s, after Bach's lifetime.

The music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) is one of humanity's greatest treasures. It is unsurpassed in its expression of profound reverence for life, and in its depth and diversity of ideas and feelings. It provides boundless joy to listeners and performers.

Tutorials

Italian Concerto BWV 971

• Allegro

  • Part 1

  • Part 2

• Andante

• Presto

Overture in the French style BWV 831 Echo