Suite (Overture) No. 3 in D, BWV 1068: Aria (Air on the G String): String Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

During the first half of the eighteenth century, the French dance suite achieved great popularity throughout northern Europe. From 1724 to 1731, JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750) modelled his four orchestral suites, designated by the composer as ouvertures, on this much-loved musical form. SUITE NO. 3 IN D, BWV 1068, written around the year 1730, contains six movements in the style of French dances of varying meter and temperament. The ARIA in the second movement, frequently known as AIR ON THE G STRING, was arranged by Leopold Stokowski in 1923. Bringing this music into the twentieth century, he creatively chose to pass the melody between the cello and first violin parts.