Bourrée in E minor is a popular lute piece, the fifth
movement from Suite in E minor for Lute, BWV 996 (BC
L166) written by Johann Sebastian Bach. This piece is
arguably one of the most famous pieces among
guitarists.
A bourrée was a type of dance that originated in
France with quick duple meter and an upbeat. Though the
bourrée was popular as a social dance and shown in
theatrical ballets during the reign of Louis XIV of
France, the Bourrée in E minor was not intended for
dancing....(+)
Bourrée in E minor is a popular lute piece, the fifth
movement from Suite in E minor for Lute, BWV 996 (BC
L166) written by Johann Sebastian Bach. This piece is
arguably one of the most famous pieces among
guitarists.
A bourrée was a type of dance that originated in
France with quick duple meter and an upbeat. Though the
bourrée was popular as a social dance and shown in
theatrical ballets during the reign of Louis XIV of
France, the Bourrée in E minor was not intended for
dancing. Nonetheless, some of the elements of the dance
are incorporated in the piece. Bach wrote his lute
pieces in a traditional score rather than in lute
tablature, and some believe that Bach played his lute
pieces on the keyboard. No original script of the Suite
in E minor for Lute by Bach is known to exist. However,
in the collection of one of Bach's pupils, Johann
Ludwig Krebs, there is one piece ("Praeludio - con la
Suite da Gio: Bast. Bach") that has written "aufs
Lauten Werck" ("for the lute-harpsichord") in
unidentified handwriting. Some argue that despite this
reference, the piece was meant to be played on the lute
as demonstrated by the texture. Others argue that since
the piece was written in E minor, it would be
incompatible with the baroque lute which was tuned to D
minor. Nevertheless, it may be played with other string
instruments, such as the guitar, mandola or mandocello,
and keyboard instruments, and it is especially
well-known among guitarists. The tempo of the piece
should be fairly quick and smooth, since it was written
to be a dance. It also demonstrates counterpoint, as
the two voices move independently of one another.
Furthermore, the Bourrée in E minor demonstrates
binary form.
Although originally written for Lute, I created this
arrangement for Flute and Bass Clarinet.
SHEET MUSIC