Johann Sebastian Bach: French Overture for Keyboard

The overture BWV 831 opens part II of Johann Sebastian Bach's Clavierübungen, where it immediately precedes the more famous Italian Concerto (BWV 971). Wheras, in the Clavierübungen, Bach was concerned to account for all the current genres and compositional techniques for keyboard in his collections, the dramaturgy of the second part is founded on the contrast between the grave and stately sonic world of the French overture, as represented by Lully, and the virtuosity of the Italian concerto style.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750), French Overture for Keyboard in B minor, BWV 831, 1735, harpsichord: Marga Scheurich; audio source: https://youtu.be/wgmH_3vTEoU.