English Suites, BWV 806-811

The English Suites are a set of six suites for the Harpsichord, written by German composer J. S. Bach. The nickname "English Suites" was not given by Bach himself. Each of the suites begins with a prelude and the suit of dance movements follows the customary Baroque template of allemande, courante, sarabande, and gigue, with one or more galanteries such as menuets or gavottes between the sarabande and gigue. The suites are arranged according to a descending tonal scheme: A major, A minor, G minor, F major, E minor, D minor. Notable recordings have been made by Gustav Leonhardt, Christophe Rousset, and others.