Bourrée in E minor

J.S. Bach 'Bourree in E minor' (BWV 996)

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.^[1]

A bourrée was a type of dance that originated in France with quick duple meter and an upbeat.^[2] 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.^[2] Nonetheless, some of the elements of the dance are incorporated in the piece.^[2]

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.^[2] No original script of the Suite in E minor for Lute by Bach is known to exist.^[3] 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.^[3] Some argue that despite this reference, the piece was meant to be played on the lute as demonstrated by the texture.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[1] Furthermore, the Bourrée in E minor demonstrates binary form.^[6]

	Lute Suite No,. 1 - BWV 996, E Minor - V Bourrée Performed on a lautenwerck by Martha Goldstein J.S. Bach "Bourrée in E minor" (BWV 996) Performed on an organ
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In classical music

Robert Schumann quotes the first 14 notes of this memorable theme (transposed to G minor) in #3 of the Op. 60, 6 Fugues on B–A–C–H, where he neatly combines it with the B♭ A C B motif. There also appears to be an echo of this reference in the next fugue, #4.

In popular culture

"Bourée"

Song by Jethro Tull from the album Stand Up

Released

1 August 1969

Recorded

April 1969 at Morgan Studios, London

Genre

Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Progressive rock

Length

3:46

Label

Island, Reprise

Writer(s)

J.S. Bach, arr. Ian Anderson

Producer(s)

Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis

Stand Up track listing

"Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square"
(2)

"Bourée"
(3)

"Back to the Family"
(4)

The piece has been used by a number of musicians:

Paul McCartney has said in interviews and on tours that the songs "Blackbird" and "Jenny Wren" were both inspired by variations and alterations to the bourrée.^[7]
The London Blues-rock group Bakerloo released their arrangement of the tune, titled "Drivin' Bachwards", as a single on Harvest Records (HAR 5004) in July 1969. The same recording appeared on their self-titled debut album (Harvest SHVL 762) the following December.
Jethro Tull used the piece in the third track in their August 1969 album Stand Up, "Bourée".^[8] Alternative versions of the same track appear on The Jethro Tull Christmas Album and A Little Light Music and is a band favorite for live concerts.
Led Zeppelin has used this piece in live performances while playing "Heartbreaker".^[9]
Tenacious D used it for their songs, "Rock Your Socks" and "Classico", which was played in Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny.^[10]
Yngwie Malmsteen has also been known to integrate this, among other works by Bach, into his live sets.^[11]^[1]
Leo Kottke performs "Bouree" on the album Mudlark.^[1]
Lenny Breau re-harmonized this piece and recorded it on the album Minors Aloud under the title "On a Bach Bouree".
Alter Bridge used this riff as the chorus to "Wayward One", the closing track of their 2007 album Blackbird.
Jam-80 a short-lived Icelandic band featuring Björk recorded it on a demo cassette.
It has been adapted for the Commodore 64 version of Black Lamp.
Blizzard composer Glenn Stafford used it in the soundtrack for Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness in the second half of the song titled "Human 2".

References

1 2 3 4 Mark Phillips; Jon Chappell (2008). Guitar Exercises for Dummies. For Dummies. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-470-38766-5.
1 2 3 4 Nancy Bachus; Daniel Glover (2000). The Baroque Spirit, Bk 2: Book & CD. Alfred Music Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7390-0502-6.
1 2 3 Hannu Annala; Heiki Mätlik (2008). Handbook of Guitar and Lute Composers. Mel Bay Publications. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-7866-5844-2.
↑ Johann Sebastian Bach; Jozsef Eotvos (2002). J. S. Bach: The Complete Lute Works. Mel Bay Publications. p. vi. ISBN 978-0-7866-6819-9.
↑ Elizabeth T. Knuth. "Bourrée". Retrieved 2007-12-18.
↑ Bill Purse (2003). The PrintMusic! primer: mastering the art of music notation with Finale PrintMusic!. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 164. ISBN 978-0-87930-754-7.
↑ Bass Player. "He Can Work It Out". Retrieved 2007-12-18.
↑ Jethro Tull, Scott Allen Nollen, Ian Anderson (McFarland, 2001) Page 47
↑ Songfacts. "Heartbreaker by Led Zeppelin". Retrieved 2007-12-18.
↑ Kickass Classical. "The Most Popular Classical Music". Retrieved 2007-12-18.
↑ Chordie. "Bachs Bouree by Yngwie Malmsteen". Retrieved 2007-12-18.

External links

Compositions for Organ, Keyboard and Lute by Johann Sebastian Bach

Organ	Fugue in G minor, BWV 131a (doubtful) Sonatas, BWV 525–530 Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532 Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 Toccata and Fugue in D minor ("Dorian"), BWV 538 Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540 Fantasia and Fugue in G minor ("Great"), BWV 542 Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543 Prelude and Fugue in E minor ("Wedge"), BWV 548 Eight Short Preludes and Fugues, BWV 553–560 (doubtful) Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562 Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV 564 Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 Prelude (Toccata) and Fugue in E major, BWV 566 Fugue in G minor ("Little"), BWV 578 Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 Orgelbüchlein, BWV 599–644 Schübler Chorales, BWV 645–650 Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes, BWV 651–668 Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her", BWV 769 Neumeister chorales, BWV 1090–1120 Chorale fantasia Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, BWV 1128

Keyboard	Aria variata alla maniera italiana Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue English Suites French Suites Goldberg Variations (discography, Gould recording) Inventions and Sinfonias Italian Concerto Overture in the French style Partitas for Keyboard (No. 4, No. 6) Prelude in E minor, BWV 855a Six Little Preludes The Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 846–893 (Preludes and Fugues in Book I: C major, BWV 846, C♯ minor, BWV 849, G minor, BWV 861; in Book II: C major, BWV 870, F minor, BWV 881)

Lute	Suite in G minor, BWV 995 Suite in E minor, BWV 996 (Bourrée) Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E♭ major, BWV 998 Prelude in C minor, BWV 999 Fugue in G minor, BWV 1000

Mixed collections	Clavier-Übung III: Prelude and Fugue in E♭ major ("St. Anne"), BWV 552 / Chorale preludes, BWV 669–689 / Duets, BWV 802–805 Concerto arrangements for solo keyboard, BWV 592–597 and 972–987 Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach Twelve Little Preludes

List of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach List of fugal works by Johann Sebastian Bach

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Bourrée in E minor

In classical music

In popular culture

See also

References

External links