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Baroque

Baroque

Classical

Romantic

20th century

21st century

Solo repertoire

Piccolo

Alto flute

Bass flute

Bach Johann Sebastian

Albinoni, Tomaso Giovanni

Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel

Bach, Johann Sebastian

Bach, Wilhelm Friedmann

Barre, Michel de la

Benda, Franz

Blavet, Michel

Boccherini, Luigi

Boismortier, Joseph Bodin de

Čart, Jiří

Chédeville, Nicolas

Corelli, Arcangelo

Corrette, Michel

Couperin, François

Handel, George Frideric

Hotteterre, Jacques-Martin

Leclair, Jean-Marie l'aîné

Locatelli, Pietro Antonio

Loeillet (de Gant), Jean-Baptiste

Marais, Marin

Marc, Thomas

Marcello, Benedetto

Martini, Giovanni Battista

Müthel, Johann Gottfried

Pachelbel, Johann

Pergolesi, Giovanni Battista

Platti, Giovanni Benedetto

Quantz, Johann Joachim

Telemann, Georg Philipp

Tromlitz, Johann George

Vitali, Tomaso Antonio

Vivaldi, Antonio

Suite in C minor (BWV 997) for flute and piano

By Bach Johann Sebastian

J.S. Bach: Suite in C minor (BWV 997) for flute and piano was written during Bach's Leipzig period, likely between 1738 and 1741, when Bach was the esteemed Kantor of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig.
The work was most likely composed for Bach's "hobby" instrument: lute-harpsichord (Lautenwerk), a keyboard instrument designed to imitate the sound of a lute.
Despite his focus on church music, Bach maintained an interest in secular instrumental works. He had an instrument maker build a Lautenwerk of his own design. The compositions for this specific instrument (BWV 996, 997, and 998) were likely personal projects or intended for a small circle of musicians and friends, such as the lutenist Silvius Leopold Weiss.

The Suite was published as a piano work in 1881, many years after Bach's death.
There are several arrangements for the flute. One of the most popular was made by Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute part) and Robert Veyron-Lacroix (piano/harpsichord).

Jean-Pierre Rampal

Robert Veyron-Lacroix (harpsichord), 1975, Warner Music / Warner Classics

1. Prelude

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Jean-Pierre Rampal

Robert Veyron-Lacroix (harpsichord), 1975, Warner Music / Warner Classics

2. Fugue

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Jean-Pierre Rampal

Robert Veyron-Lacroix (harpsichord), 1975, Warner Music / Warner Classics

3. Sarabande

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Jean-Pierre Rampal

Robert Veyron-Lacroix (harpsichord), 1975, Warner Music / Warner Classics

4. Gigue & Double

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Bach Johann Sebastian

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer who is regarded as one of the most important composers in the history of music. Among most of his popular works – instrumental works for violin (Sonatas and Partitas), cello Suites, keyboard works (Goldberg Variations, The Well-Tempered Clavier) numerous organ compositions (e.g. Toccata and Fugue in D minor), numerous instrumental concertos for keyboard, violin and various instruments (Brandenburg Concertos) as well as some profound vocal music works: Mass in B minor; St. Matthew Passion etc.
J.S.Bach was born in Eisenach as part of The Bach family of musicians. Orphaned at the age of 10, young Johann Sebastian lived with his oldest brother Johann Christoph for five years. During the following years he worked at several protestant churches and as a Kapellmeister at the Prince Leopold court in Köthen (1717-1723).
In 1723 he was appointed as cantor at St. Thomas, the principal Lutheran church in Leipzig (after G.P.Telemann declined to relocate to Leipzig). Even though he was mostly perceived as organist at his time, he gained honorary appointment at the court of Frederic Augustus, King of Poland in Dresden.