Bach: Orchestral Suite No.3 in D major, BWV 1068

Introduction

The oldest source is a partially-autographed set of parts from around 1730. Bach wrote out the first violin and continuo parts, C. P. E. Bach wrote out the trumpet, oboe, and timpani parts, and J. S. Bach's student Johann Ludwig Krebs wrote out the second violin and viola parts. Rifkin has argued that the original was a version for strings and continuo alone.

1. Ouverture (In D major. Metrical sign is C for the opening section; metrical sign is 2 fugal section, in which the autograph first violin part is marked "vite" (fast); metrical sign C for final section)
2. Air (In D major. Metrical sign is C)
3. Gavotte I/II (In D major. Metrical sign is C)
4. Bourrée (In D major. Metrical sign is C)
5. Gigue (In D major. Metrical sign is 6/8)

Instrumentation: Trumpet I/II/III, timpani, oboe I/II, violin I/II, viola, basso continuo (second movement: only strings and continuo).

Transposed arrangement of second movement

Further information: Air on the G String

An arrangement of the second movement of the suite by German violinist August Wilhelmj (1845–1908) became known as Air on the G String.