Bach, Johann Sebastian : Suite Sarabande
Work Overview
Genre:salabande
Total Playing Time:2 min 30 sec
Copyright:Public Domain
Commentary (1)
Author : Ooi, Kazurou
Last Updated: January 8, 2024
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Author : Ooi, Kazurou
This is a sarabande in ternary form. The A section spans measures 1-16, the B section measures 17-28, after which it returns to A.
Regarding the A section, it can be conceptualized as three phrases: 1 (measures 1-2), 2 (measures 3-4), and 3 (measures 5-8), forming the first half. Subsequently, it can be further divided into 4 (measures 9-10), 5 (measures 11-12), and 6 (measures 13-16), suggesting a structure where 2+2+4 measures are repeated twice.
In the first half of the A section, phrase 1 should be played calmly. Phrase 2 should increase the tension compared to phrase 1, and phrase 3 reaches an F an octave higher than the initial F, thus raising the tension considerably.
The latter half of the A section follows a similar pattern; however, at measure 13, unlike the octave leap in the previous phrase 3, there is now a leap of a tenth. Therefore, the latter half should be performed with higher tension than the first half.
The B section begins calmly in the parallel key of A-flat major. Up to measure 24, there is generally no sense of gravity, with only measure 21 becoming slightly dramatic. However, at measure 25, it suddenly modulates to C minor, and the tension rises sharply. The section from measures 25-28 is the part with the highest tension in this sarabande.
As for the overall mood, please try to play it as a kind of "expression of sorrow".