Handel’s Sarabande from the Keyboard Suite in D minor (HWV 437) is one of the most recognizable pieces of the Baroque era.
While originally written for the harpsichord between 1703 and 1706, its dark, stately atmosphere has made it a staple for piano players and film scores (most notably Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon).
🎼 Musical Structure & Theory
The piece is a "Theme and Variations" based on the La Folia (The Folly), an ancient chord progression used by dozens of Baroque composers.
Key: D Minor
Time Signature: Originally $3/2$ (stately and slow), though often simplified to $3/4$ in modern editions.
Tempo: Grave or Andante con moto. The pulse should feel heavy on the second beat, which is a defining characteristic of the Sarabande dance.
The Chord Progression (The "La Folia" Variation)
Handel uses a 16-bar progression divided into two 8-bar sections. If you are looking for the exact chords to play or analyze, they follow this pattern:
🎹 Breakdown of Variations 1 & 2
Handel’s variations are "cumulative," meaning they gradually increase in rhythmic complexity while keeping the underlying harmony identical.
The theme is chordal and "blocky." The focus is on the haunting melody in the top voice and the resonant bass. It is meant to be played with a sense of nobility and restraint.
2. Variation 1 (The Dotted Rhythm)
This variation introduces a stately dotted rhythm (often eighth notes followed by sixteenths).
3. Variation 2 (The Running Eighths)
The density increases here with continuous eighth-note motion in the right hand.
📄 Where to Find Accurate Sheet Music
To get the most "accurate" version (closer to Handel's original intent), you should look for Urtext editions, which strip away modern editorial changes like excessive pedal markings or incorrect time signatures.
Would you like me to find a specific PDF link for you, or perhaps help you analyze the fingerings for the eighth-note runs in Variation 2?
