The name "French Suites" was not used by Bach himself, but first appeared in 1762 in notes by Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg and was popularized by Johann Nicolaus Forkel in 1802.
Recording & Production
This recording was made in the Great Refectory of the Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński, Poland, between October 1st and 5th, 2021.
Instruments
The harpsichord used for this recording is a 2020 copy of a Flemish harpsichord, made by Bruce Kennedy in Castelmuzio.
Compositional Technique
Bach's French Suites are often called "suites sans préludes" because only the last suite, BWV 817, begins with a prelude, which was taken from Das Wohltemperierte Klavier.
Composer Biography
Johann Sebastian Bach was thoroughly acquainted with contemporary French harpsichord repertoire, including works by Louis Marchand, Jean-Henri d'Anglebert, and Nicolas-Antoine Lebègue.
Composition History
The pieces now known as Bach's French Suites were originally written into his second wife Anna Magdalena Bach's musical notebook, Clavier-Büchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach, starting in 1722.
Performer Biography
Ewa Mrowca, the harpsichordist, is a professor at two music academies in Poland and has performed across Europe, Asia, and the United States.
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