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Song List: English Suite No. 1 in A Major, Bourrée 1 (BWV 806)* French Suite No. 2 in C Minor, Menuet (BWV 813)* Invention No. 1 in C Major (BWV 772)* Invention No. 8 in F Major (BWV 779)* Prelude in C Major (BWV 846), WTC Bk. 1* Goldberg Variations, Aria (BWV 988)
(Click on a song title to see more information on it)

• 5 iLevels: transcription of J.S. Bach score, transcription of Glenn Gould's ornamentation, plus 3 breakdowns

• 3 Performance Videos: J.S. Bach transcription, Glenn Gould transcription, and easiest breakdown

One of Bach's six English suites. A suite is a set of dance pieces, written for the court. The bourrée is a cheerful, lively dance step, as is the accompanying music. A challenging piece suited for an advanced player, it requires a firm, articulate touch to execute the quick tempo.

• 5 iLevels: transcription of J.S. Bach score, transcription of Glenn Gould's ornamentation, plus 3 breakdowns

• 3 Performance Videos: J.S. Bach transcription, Glenn Gould transcription, and easiest breakdown

The minuet (menuet is the French spelling) is one of the optional dances in a suite. Bach wrote six French suites. Louis XIV was an avid fan of the minuet, and it was all the rage in his court, which flourished in France during the second half of the seventeenth century. The mid- to late-intermediate student will find this minuet to be a good study in evenness of tone and lightness of touch.

• 6 iLevels: transcription of J.S. Bach score, transcription of Glenn Gould's ornamentation, plus 4 breakdowns

• 3 Performance Videos: J.S. Bach transcription, Glenn Gould transcription, and easiest breakdown

Bach wrote the two- and three-part inventions as teaching pieces for his students. This two-part invention is a good first study in imitative counterpoint; Glenn Gould's use of ornamentation is particularly unconventional.

• 4 iLevels: transcription of J.S. Bach score, plus 3 breakdowns

• 2 Performance Videos: J.S. Bach transcription and easiest breakdown

Another two-part invention (two horizontal voices, usually one played by the right hand, one played by the left), this quick, joyous piece will challenge the intermediate student. Both hands are of equal importance, with a running imitative counterpoint throughout.

• 3 iLevels: transcription of J.S. Bach score, plus 2 breakdowns

• 2 Performance Videos: J.S. Bach transcription and easiest breakdown

Bach wrote two books of the Well-Tempered Clavier (the bible of keyboard music), with twenty-four preludes and fugues each, one in each major and minor key. This C Major Prelude is the first prelude from Book 1 and is perhaps the most well-known as well as the most accessible. Anyone from beginner to advanced will delight in the peaceful arpeggiated chords.

• 5 iLevels: transcription of J.S. Bach score, transcription of Glenn Gould's 2 ornamentations, plus 2 breakdowns

• 3 Performance Videos: J.S. Bach transcription, both Glenn Gould transcriptions

Named after Bach's pupil Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who was a harpsichordist in the service of the Russian count von Keyserlingk, the Goldberg Variations are more properly known as Aria with [30] Different Variations. It is a mathematical as well as musical masterpiece; the challenges lie in the execution of the numerous ornamentation markings and use of finger substitution and legato. Gould's two recordings (one at the beginning of his career, one at the end) demonstrate how open to interpretation Bach's keyboard music is.

All songs used by permission. Produced under license from Sony Classical, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. All songs courtesy of Sony Classical, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.